SURRY, Maine — A contract worker at Nexamp's Surry Solar died on the job Thursday morning after experiencing a medical event, previously thought to be electrocution.
Just before noon Thursday, first responders and the Maine State Police received a 911 call reporting a medical event at a solar farm on Surry Road in Surry, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss said in a Friday news release.
Following an initial investigation, officials determined that 52-year-old Edwin Kendall Jones of Washington, Maine, had suffered a medical event while working at the site. His body was then taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta for an autopsy to determine his cause of death, Moss said.
Surry Fire Chief Bryan McLellan had told NEWS CENTER Maine on Thursday that crews were dispatched to Surry Solar for a report of an electrocution.
McLellan said a worker heard his coworker scream before falling to the ground. That worker then gave the man CPR before two firefighters arrived at the scene and took over.
Shortly after that, an ambulance arrived and began providing care, but the man died at the scene 45 minutes later, according to McLellan.
Surry Solar is owned by Nexamp. Company spokesperson Keith Hevenor confirmed with NEWS CENTER Maine that the fatality occurred Thursday at its Surry Solar site.
"The incident involved an employee of a third-party contractor," Hevenor said. "At this time, the exact cause is still under investigation, and we are working closely with authorities to determine what happened."
Hevenor said no cause of death has been determined, and that Maine State Police are leading the investigation. The man's identity has not been released.
"As the investigation continues, we will cooperate fully with all those involved and provide any necessary support," Hevenor said.
Moss said Friday that the Occupational Health and Safety Administration has been notified and the investigation is still active and ongoing.
