Window cleaner fights for life after 33,000-volt shock from powerline blasts him across garden

The powerful shock narrowly missed Jason Knight’s heart and left scorched footprints in the grass of his client’s garden

Jason Knight, 34, from Westbury, Wiltshire, survived a 33,000-volt electric shock which left doctors no choice but to amputate his arm (Collect/PA Real Life) (PA)

A window cleaner miraculously survived a 33,000-volt electric shock which blasted him out of his shoes.

Doctors were left with no choice but to amputate his arm after the deadly current jumped from an overhead cable onto his cleaning pole in a customer’s back garden.

Jason Knight, 34, from Westbury, Wiltshire, thought he was going to die after the powerful shock narrowly missed his heart and sent him flying seven feet across a lawn in April this year, leaving scorched footprints in the grass.

The self-employed window cleaner was airlifted to Southmead Hospital where doctors performed 17 surgeries in an effort to save him, but they were forced to amputate his left arm and five of his toes that were severely burned.

Jason, who lives with his wife Sara, 35, and their 18-month-old identical twin girls and seven-year-old daughter, remains in hospital where he faces months of recovery and has been told he may never be able to walk again.

His sister Leanna has launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe to help support his young family and his recovery after Jason had to shut down his two-year-old cleaning business.

“It was only when I looked down at my feet, my shoes were no longer on, that I realised I had such serious injuries,” Jason said.

“I somehow managed to roll and crawl to the closest wall, nearest to the conservatory, and managed to lean myself up against it.

“At that point all I could think was that I was going to die.

“I couldn’t tap on the window, there was nothing I could do.”

The powerful shock sent Jason flying seven feet across the lawn in April this year, leaving scorched footprints in the grass (PA)

Jason’s father John Knight, 58, added: “He should be dead.”

On April 6, Jason was using a water-fed pole to clean the conservatory windows at a customer’s property which has power cables running through the back garden.

Neither the owner nor Jason were aware these were 33,000 volt electricity lines and there were no obvious warning signs around the property.

He finished cleaning the last pane and was on the verge of packing up when his carbon fibre pole came close to one of the powerlines and Jason was suddenly “catapulted” seven feet through the air.

“The next thing I remember is waking up on the other side of the lawn meters away from where I had been cleaning,” he said.

“It happened that fast.

“I was very dazed and dizzy.

“I just had to wait for someone to come and find me.”

The shock was so powerful, it blew Jason’s boots off and burnt his footprints into the grass.

“You can see in the photographs Jason’s feet are burnt in the grass,” his father said.

“That’s where he was standing when he was electrocuted, just over six feet away from the conservatory.”

Jason has undergone 17 surgeries, including several to remove five of his toes and a ‘significant amount' of dead tissue (PA)

Jason was found barely conscious, slumped against the building, about 10 minutes later by the bewildered homeowner who called emergency services.

“Thankfully, the customer saw me and asked if I needed help and obviously I said yes,” said Jason.

“I must have then passed out.”

John raced to the scene and watched through a hole in the fence as his son was airlifted to Southmead Hospital, where doctors carried out an emergency amputation of his left forearm.

“When I arrived, I could see the air ambulance in the adjacent field, about 20 metres away – that’s when I knew it was serious,” John explained, fighting back tears.

“The paramedics stopped me from going into the garden, but I managed to take a peek through a gap in the fence.

“I could see his hand was completely black and he was burnt all down his face.

“He wasn’t wearing any shoes because they had been blown off, and his feet were all black.

“Obviously I went into shock and the pilot came over and put his arms round me and said, ‘don’t worry, I’ll have him there in 10 minutes’.”

Since the accident, Jason has undergone 17 surgeries, including several to remove five of his toes and a “significant amount” of dead tissue, tendons and muscle from both his legs, leaving him unable to walk.

A scan revealed the electric current had only narrowly missed his heart after travelling down his left arm and through his body.

The overhead 33,000 volt power cables (Collect/PA Real Life) (PA)

The day after the blast, John contacted Scottish and Southern Electricity (SSEN), the company which owns and operates the network of power cables in the area, and a preliminary report has now been issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Guidance, published on the HSE website, states that “voltages lower than 230 volts can kill and injure people” and that “going close to a live overhead line can result in a flashover”.

Flashovers happen when electricity jumps a short distance between an overhead line and a nearby object which has either not been insulated or the insulation has been compromised by water or other substances.

The family has been told Jason’s recovery could take several months and there is a possibility he may never walk again.

Due to the severity of his injuries, he has had to wind down his small cleaning business, H2O Vision, which he spent two years “building up”.

Despite the many challenges that lie ahead, Jason, remains positive.

“Every day is a little bit better,” he said from hospital.

“I do get up days and down days but I am positive.

“The pain is up and down, as I am in surgery a lot.

“I think I am on 17 surgeries now and obviously after each surgery the pain creeps up a lot and sets me back from doing physio.

“It’s a very slow process but I am trying to do what I can to keep strong.”

To aid his mobility, Jason will also have to make “inevitable changes” to his home, and likely pay for prosthetics and ongoing physiotherapy, all while supporting his family.

Jason’s sister, Leanna Haskell, 31, from Frome in Somerset, has launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe to help him cover these costs, which has already raised over £19,500.

Doctors no choice but to amputate his arm after the deadly current jumped from an overhead cable onto his cleaning pole (PA)

Leanna said “The support from not only people who know Jason but also complete strangers has been really humbling and the only way I can explain it, is that it restores your faith in humanity.

“It’s been remarkable.

“We as a family are truly, truly grateful to everyone, for their donations, for sharing Jason’s story and for their well-wishes.”

Among those sharing their support has been former England goalkeeper David Seaman, formerly of Jason’s favourite football team Arsenal FC, who created a “get well soon” video with “loads of love” saying: “You’re an Arsenal fan… we’re used to good news and bad news but we get through it.

“Keep battling and we’ll see you down at the Emirates very soon.”

An SSEN Distribution spokesperson said: “We were saddened to hear about the incident that occurred in Westbury in April, and our thoughts are with Mr Knight and his family at this very difficult time.

“At SSEN, we take our responsibility for the public’s safety around our assets very seriously.

“Since the incident, we have been closely involved with the Health and Safety Executive’s ongoing investigation, supplying details of regular asset inspections (the last of which was in 2023), public communications and evidence of full compliance with Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations (ESQCR) which includes requirements for statutory warning signs and distance from property.

“We continue to fully support the HSE in its investigation, as required.

“However, as this is an active investigation, we are unable to make further public comment at this time.”