ONE KILLED. ONE CRITICALLY BURNED
Quick Thinking May Have Averted Further
Tragedy In Electrical Accident At Ocean Isle
BY SUSAN USHER
Quick thinking by those respond
ing io cut cltuiiUl au.n!ciii <i Gixau
Isle Bcach last Wednesday that
killed one vinyl siding installer and
critically burned another may have
averted further tragedy, says the
town's fire chief.
James "Frank" Braswell Jr., 55, of
Conway, S.C., was dead on arrival at
The Brunswick Hospital of cardiac
ancst due to electrical shock. His
co-worker, Bobby Sweat or Sweatt.
33, also of Conway, remained in
critical condition Tuesday evening
in the Jaycees Bum Center at UNC
Hospitals.
Sweat was transferred by a Char
lotte-based air ambulance service
Wednesday afternoon, flying out of
Ocean Isle Bcach Airport to Chapel
Hill. In addition to internal injuries
he received second- and third-degree
burns over approximately two-thirds
of his body, said Lt. Mark Gore of
ithe Shallottc Volunteer Rescue
Squad.
The two men were taking down
aluminum extension ladder short
after noon Wednesday when the
1 J ;r fell against what rescue
ers described as a 7,200-volt
'crhead electrical transmission
le.
Ocean Isle Bcach Fire Chief Dave
II said taking down an exten
sion ladder usually involves one
Barker holding the ladder and push
kg it slightly away from the build
fcg. while a second person climbs
Iffreral steps up the ladder to release
ft.
J "Apparently when he (Braswell)
ecd the ladder away it got out of
control and fell against the
- Harrcll said
llbe work site accident was rtxi
|y investigated by the N.C.
ment of labor last week,
man Jenny Beth Kennedy
Fnday, with the findings due in
December.
? Harrcll praised all those involved
fcr "doing exactly the right thing."
averting injury to others. Some
Ocean Isle Bcach firefighters, in
ing Hanell, double as first re
" Everybody on the scene did
everything they were supposed to do:
they got help en route immediately ;
they pushed the ladder away safely ;
they began CPR. "
? Dave Harrell, OIB Fire Chief
spondcrs for mcdical cmcrgcncics,
caring for victims until emergency
medical technicians arrive.
"I'm so proud of our people," he
said, referring to department mem
bers and others involved in the inci
dent. "Everybody on the scene did
everything they were supposed to
do: they got help en route immedi
ately, they pushed the ladder away
safely, they began C'PR."
Subcontractors for Coastal Vinyl
& Aluminum of Shallottc, the two
men had put the final touches on a
vinyl siding installation at a home
under construction at ISS East 2nd
Street. After taking a break inside.
Braswcl! and Sweat went to remove
their ladder, telling the two wallpa
per hangers inside they were leav
ing.
About this time, George Folms
bee of Shallottc Electric & Plumb
ing Supply arrived and was unload
ing plumbing fixtures inside the
house.
According to Harrell, Folmsbce
said those inside heard a noise out
side that sounded like someone
sanding. When the noise continued,
one of the women checked. Hearing
her scream. Folmsbce ran out.
"The two men were lying on the
ground, still touching the ladder
Electricity was still shooting through
them." said Harrell "Thank God he
thought to use the board. He pushed
the ladder off the wire with a board
before he began treating the most se
rious victim."
One of the women flagged down
passing motorist Avram Mullcr. a
new Ocean Isle Beach resident who
Friday Nights ? Doors Open 6:15 pm
Shallotte Moose Lodge 710
Uua. 1 C<%a? O
TVffy. ivv UUJI, ? iviuoil IA70V
Open to the Public
; Games begin at 7:30 pm
Minimum "Buy In" $5.00
Snacks Available
happened to also be a new member
of the fire department. Muller said
he radioed the 911 center, calling for
first responders and the department's
pumper used to carTy medical emer
gency equipment and supplies.
"I told them to hurry because it
was very serious," he said later that
afternoon.
Folsmbee had begun cardiopul
monary resuscitation on Braswell,
who was in cardiac arrest, unrespon
sive and never regained vital signs.
A bystander offered help as well,
while Muller evaluated the scene for
safety, then cleared Sweat's throat.
Assistant Fire Chief A! Crawford,
a first responder, arrived and began
stabilizing Sweat, who was in elec
trical shock. Stfeat was taken by
EMTs to The Brunswick Hospital,
stabilized further, then flown to
Chapel Hill later Wednesday by
fixed-wing aircraft.
Muller said he had joined the fire
department only six weeks earlier
out of a desire to help his new com
munity and was impressed by every
one's efforts Wednesday. The first
responders and EMTs "did every
thing they could" to save Braswell's
life and to maintain Sweat's, he said.
Harrell said a regional critical in
cident team held a debriefing last
week to help those involved deal
with their reactions to the incident.
I.R.S. PROBLEMS
?Delinquent Filing "Delinquent Taxes
?Audits -Offer In Compromise
CALL FOR FEES AND OTHER SERVICES PERFORMED
ARMOUR ASSOCIATES
Accounting & Tax Service
5152 New Britton Loop Rd., Ash, NC 28420
(910)287-4156 or 1-800-955-5128
umBMiwffliwrnir.Hiiuiiri.HwnfTffliimii-Miw.Titw.HftT.YHtTvm
WAREHOUSE FURNITURE DISTRIBUTORS
of Little River
Florida Bedroom Furniture On Sale Now!
In stock over 200 pieces. Can be
bought by the piece or
group. 5 different styles
to choose from!
Financing
Available
Up Tc 36
Months
AM In-Stock &
On Sato
Complete 4-Piece Set
Full or Queen Headboard
Dresser ? Mirror ? Chest
Our Everyday Low Prices
Am Off Retail
Dining SMa
Ml *1,077 QBE
WAREHOUSE
FURNITURE
DISTRIBUTORS
of Little Rlvar
340 EM. Hwy 90
LM*Rh*>
(803)249-8874
Compmrm mnd amv m
90 dmya ammm ma <
Get Your
Christmas Shopping
Underway With Our
Wholesale Prices!!
Off Hwy. 17 N., Shallotte ? 754-4404
Entrance off Bus. 17 N. just before the bypass or directly off Hwy. 17 N. (Next To Coastal Tire)
?1W4THEBAUNSWICX BEACON
Congratulations Ocean Greens Phase II!
We're proud to have provided paving services for your community.
NEW HOLIDAY ARRIVALS
Dresses ? Velour Sets ? Sweat Suits
Blouses ? Turtlenecks ? Knit Pant
Sets ? Slacks
Girls' Pants Size 4-16 - $2.50
K*D MFG=?NG
Monday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm
430 Mulberry St. ? Shallotte hm
754-2260 =
Helping Brunswick County Grow!
iiA/*12 Grading And
JWiVfl Paving Contractor
754-7177
Asphalt Plant-2 miles north of Shallotte on Hwy. 17
E. Second Street ? Ocean Isle Beach ? 579-0535 O
(Beside Jungle Golf)
Weekly Entertainment Schedule
Monday-Mon. Nite Football On Our Big Screen TV
50c Draft Beer ? 50c Hot Dogs
Tuesday-Dance Nite-Playing your Favorites
Wednesday-Shag W/ DJ Kenny Kelly
Thursday-Dance Nite
Friday -Live Entertainment
Saturday-Live Entertainment
Sunday-Drink Specials
Fri. & Sat. Nights ? Free Ride Home (within 10 miles)
I *
Live Entertainment
[? ra?\7: 18 and 19-Midnite Run
also...
Be here for our
1st Anniversary Party
Nov. 25 and 26-Eclipse
Join Us For a Traditional
cIhanl<^sgiving
(Buffet 1
featuring . .
Roast Breast of Turkey &
Baked Glazed Ham
te Plus An Array of Traditional ;
Vegetables, Breads and Desserts
$R95
Only
(Includes Coffee or Tea)
Don't Forget Our
Breakfast & Lunch Specials
only
$350
15% off Breakfast or Lunch w/ Church Bulletin
Late Night Breakfast-Fri. and Sat.
RAW BAR NIGHTLY 5-7 PM
Steamed
Oysters
25e
Crab Leg
Cluster
$2
Steamed
Clams
35e
Peel 'n Eat
Shrimp
$395
M lb.
Buffalo
Wings
15*
Now booking Christmas parties!