Pregnant Harlan County woman climbs on roof, gives CPR to man shocked by power line

A southeastern Kentucky man badly injured in an electricity accident might owe his life to a woman who is nine months pregnant.

Marcus Hobbs, of Barbourville, was working for Daniels Mobile Home Construction helping install a double-wide trailer Monday in Harlan County when he accidentally touched a power line.

The incident

on Red Bud Hill in the Evarts community.

Ariel Boggs, who lives nearby, was stopped on the road in her car waiting for the crew to move the trailer.

Boggs said watching Hobbs get shocked was like a scene from a horror movie.

"He was completely covered in flames from head to toe," Boggs said. "Just the image of him being on fire will stay with me probably forever."

Hobbs was surrounded by fire and sparks on the trailer's roof, Boggs said.

"My first thought was, 'Oh my God, I've just watched somebody die right in front of me,'" she said.

Boggs ran to help. She climbed a ladder to reach the roof of the trailer where Hobbs laid, badly burned and seemingly lifeless.

After not feeling a pulse, she began administering CPR.

"I wanted so bad for what I was doing to work," Boggs said. "But there was a part of me that didn't think it would."

Thankfully, it did.

Hobbs regained consciousness and was taken to Harlan ARH before being flown to Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Ga.

As of Tuesday night, Hobbs was listed in critical condition.

One witness told WYMT Hobbs had severe burns on his face and arms.

"Feeling his heartbeat and knowing I helped give him that back, that means a lot to me," said Boggs.

Boggs, who is nine months pregnant with her fourth child, said God gave her the strength she needed in that moment.

"I have a lot of faith," she said. "I trust Him with everything and I knew that I would be okay climbing that ladder."

Not only was Boggs in the right place at the right time, she was also the right woman for the job.

She completed a CPR training course just three days prior to the incident.

"I'm glad that I had that class and I'm just glad that knowledge stuck with me and I was able to do exactly what I did," Boggs said.

Boggs is scheduled for a C-section Monday. That's when Axel Boggs will make his entrance into the world.