A man was clinically dead for 14 minutes and left in a coma for 29 days after being hit with enough electricity to power a factory. Darren Harris suffered horrific third-degree burns to half his body when he touched live cables carrying 11,000 volts.
The incident happened when the 33-year-old entered an abandoned building in Wolverhampton looking for scrap metal. Believing the power had been switched off ahead of demolition, he placed his arm on a live switchboard.
In an instant, the massive surge of electricity burned his forearms down to the bone. Despite agonising injuries, Darren managed to run out of the building after being knocked back by the blast.
View 6 ImagesDarren recivering from his burns
He spent 29 days in a coma and underwent drastic surgery, with skin from his legs used to rebuild his stomach, face and arms. In total, he has undergone over 30 operations and is still battling the devastating aftermath.
“My recovery journey was phenomenal,” said Darren. “I was in a coma for 29 days. I had sepsis three times, full body renal failure. I died twice and I was clinically dead for 14 minutes.
“I put my left hand to a live TV switchboard powering 980 houses and 78 factory units and that blasted me apart. It was very weird waking up in hospital. I thought I’d died at the initial scene.
View 6 ImagesDarren Harris after the accident
“When I woke up, it was a very, very weird experience to come round. I was saddened, I was angry and I was shocked, and it hit me when I was in hospital. They wanted to keep me on the ward for weeks and I decided to leave the ward and just have a little walk around, and I saw a mirror.
“I had to look at myself and that was the biggest sadness and pain that I’ve ever suffered.”
Darren, who lives in Middlesbrough, says the trauma has not just been physical, but mental too. He added: “I’ve had 33 surgeries. I lost both ears, part of my nose, you know, the full thing, the full thing.
View 6 ImagesDarren lost the flesh on his arms
“I’ve sustained many, many years of PTSD and deep rooted trauma. I’ve been on the floor many, many times. I’ve been broken, suicidal, and attempted suicide with cocaine, drugs, tablets, you name it.
“And every time I’ve climbed back up. I can do fantastically well but as soon as I get heart broken I don’t want to be here. I’m an empath and I love with my everything. I wear my heart on my sleeve.”
Darren is hoping for life-changing facial reconstruction surgery, which he believes could help him move forward from the incident, which happened in 2020. A fundraising page has already raised £15,000 towards a £100,000 target.
View 6 ImagesDarren wants facial reconstruction
He said: “I just want to get my facial reconstruction. That is my biggest thing that I’m really eager for now. I think if I had that procedure done I wouldn’t hit that threshold of pain. I’d be able to cope with life and have a bit of confidence.
“Even though I do all right, I hide a lot of my trauma. I don’t share my trauma. Even though I have it every day, I hide it.”
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View 6 ImagesDarren was burnt across half his body
Despite everything, Darren says he is determined to use his second chance at life for good. He added: “I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. I want to be a bit of an inspiration to others out there who are in a crisis.”