Chiayi: An employee of Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) was placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for life support on Tuesday, after being critically injured by electric shock as he conducted power restoration work in Yijhu Township, Chiayi County.

According to Focus Taiwan, Chi Mei Medical Center in the neighboring city of Tainan, where the man was taken after the accident, reported that he had no heartbeat or respiration upon arrival. After emergency resuscitation efforts, he regained vital signs and was connected to ECMO.

The hospital stated that the patient sustained burns over approximately 20 percent of his body, mainly on the upper torso, and is currently being monitored in the intensive care unit.

The Chiayi County Fire Bureau informed CNA that it received a report at 4:58 p.m. about a Taipower worker being electrocuted on Township Road 26 in Yijhu Township.

Personnel were immediately dispatched from its Budai unit to the scene, and finding the worker without vital signs, performed continuous resuscitation en route to Chi Mei Medical Center, the bureau said.