Westbury man suffers life-changing injuries after 33,000-volt shock

John Knight, 58, said his son Jason Knight, 33, has been left with life-changing injuries from a major electric shock that could have been avoided.

Jason lives in Westbury with his wife Sara, 35 and their 18-month-old identical twin girls and seven-year-old daughter.

The self-employed window cleaner was using a carbon fibre water pole with a brush attached to wash a conservatory at a property in Westbury during high winds on Saturday, April 6.

He was electrocuted when a 33,000-volt electric current running through an overhead power cable a few metres above him leapt from the wiring and ‘arced’ across the gap to his wet equipment.

Jason was catapulted metres away by the jolt and the shock blew off both his shoes and left him unconscious until he was found by the homeowner.

Following the accident, Jason was airlifted to the Southmead Hospital in Bristol, where he is likely to remain for the next few months.

The high-voltage blast also damaged the tendons and muscles in his legs, which has left him unable to walk.

“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 told PA Real Life.

He continued: “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.”

 John also told also told PA “he should be dead".

Talking to a Times reporter John added: “Jason is lucky to be alive. His left forearm was amputated almost immediately and he has lost three toes on one foot and two on the other.

“So far, he has needed 17 operations, and it is likely that he may not walk properly again.”

Last Friday, his family launched a GoFundMe online appeal that has already raised more than £17,800 for his care within just a few days.

His sister, Leanna Haskell, said: “Jason's story is a harsh realisation of the dangers these uninsulated power lines pose and is a warning to us all of the potential for electricity to 'jump', even when the victim has not come into direct contact with it.”

Jason Knight in happier times with his H2O Vision van and window cleaning equipment. (Image: Knight Family)

Their father John Knight is outraged that housing developers have been allowed to build homes so close to such high-voltage power lines. He said the power line involved was unmarked and unsheathed with no safety hazard warnings.

“I’m now trying to raise awareness of the problem and get legislation changed to make the old cables safer and moved further away from nearby homes.”

Since the incident, he has contacted South West Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison to raise the issue of homes being built close to overhead power lines.

A spokesperson for Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks said they were cooperating with a Health & Safety Executive investigation into the incident.

The spokesperson added: “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 & 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.”

To donate to the appeal, visit, gofundme.com/f/jasons-rehabilitation.

If you can help, email john@ebsuk.biz.