Lineman Loses Both Hands, Returns to Work After 30 Surgeries

A split second changed everything for Branden Bauer on what started as an ordinary workday near Brookville, Pennsylvania.

On January 8, 2021, the electrical lineman accidentally touched an energized wire instead of a neutral one. For 30 to 40 seconds, 7,200 volts of electricity surged through his arms while his body locked up in the bucket truck.

"The leather gloves I was wearing were still smoking and smoldering," Bauer told attendees at the Pine Creek Township Volunteer Fire Department's annual banquet on March 28. "When they tried to pull me out of the bucket, I was almost too hot to touch."

One of his coworkers prayed aloud, pleading with God to save his life. Bauer's eyes opened.

Emergency crews airlifted him to UPMC Mercy's burn unit in Pittsburgh. Over the following year, he underwent more than 30 surgeries at hospitals across four cities. Doctors amputated both hands and portions of his forearms, biceps, and triceps.

"Every step I took ahead, I got knocked back three steps," Bauer said. "Every time I went for surgery, they found something else that went wrong."

The Fryburg native, who graduated from North Clarion High School and completed a two-year electrical program through Penelec in 2011, faced a brutal recovery. He spent hundreds of hours in therapy learning basic tasks again.

At a conference for double amputees, Bauer learned to manage daily needs and use prosthetics. About 18 months after the accident, he returned to work at Unilec as a line superintendent.

Why This Inspires

Bauer now uses his decade of electrical experience to protect other linemen from similar tragedies. Every morning before work, he says a quick prayer to keep his crew safe.

His perspective shifted at the amputee conference when he met a young girl, around 4 or 5 years old, born without arms or legs. Despite her challenges, she smiled brightly and greeted him warmly.

"She didn't deserve a thing she was given, yet she was as happy as could be," Bauer said. "It's not about what problem you're handed, but how you handle it."

Now five years past the accident, Bauer shares his story with first responders and fellow linemen. His message is simple: complacency kills.

"Whether it's your first day in this career or you're a 30-year veteran, if you let your guard down, an accident can happen to you just as quickly as it happened to me," he said. "Our brain needs to be 100 percent focused because we know it's a dangerous task."

What started as the worst day of his life became Bauer's platform to save others from the same fate.