Man hanging Christmas lights found dead of electrocution, California officials say

A man hanging Christmas lights at a home died by electrocution following an accident, California officials reported.

Antonio Pascual Mateo, 24, threw a string of lights over a high-voltage power line at 10:48 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, in Escondido, the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office said in a news release.

He was electrocuted, officials said.

Paramedics found Mateo hanging upside down from a tree, officials said. He could not be revived and was pronounced dead at a hospital.

“He was a brother, a son and a uncle,” said a GoFundMe organized by his family. “He always took care of his mother and family.”

Mateo, who was stringing lights in a tree for a client, could not be rescued for an hour as paramedics waited for the power to be turned off, the GoFundMe said.

This story was originally published November 25, 2024 at 9:12 AM with the headline "Man hanging Christmas lights found dead of electrocution, California officials say."