A 24-year-old man died after being electrocuted while hanging Christmas lights

Officials say a 24-year-old California man was electrocuted and died Thursday while hanging Christmas lights.

Antonio Pascual hangs Christmas lights on the morning of November 21 on a rooftop in Escondido, California San Diego County The medical examiner’s office said in a press release.

He hung lights near power lines, and when he threw the lights on the power line, he was electrocuted. Someone called 911, and when paramedics arrived, they found Pascual “hanging upside down from a tree,” the medical examiner’s office said.

Paramedics tried to save him and took him to the nearest hospital, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital. According to the press release, the medical examiner determined that the cause of his death was high-voltage electrical shock.

Relatives say the man was trapped for an hour

According to Juan Pascual, founder of GoFundMe fundraising for the 24-year-oldAntonio Pascual was trapped in a tree for an hour as emergency services had to wait for the utility to turn off the power. By then it was too late to save us, we read in the collection.

Local officials did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s requests for comment Tuesday afternoon.

The fundraiser said the family would like to transport the man from California to Guatemala, his birthplace, for burial. His mother lives there too.

According to the organizer, Pascual took good care of his mother and family, and the Christmas lights will always mean something special to his family.

“He was a brother, a son and (an uncle),” the fundraiser reads. “He had so much to live for at just 24 years old. He will remain young forever.”

Saleen Martin is a reporter for USA TODAY’s NOW team. Originally from Norfolk, Virginia – 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California resident electrocuted while hanging Christmas lights