Police: Teen Shocked By Wire After Climbing Sartell Bridge, Falls 30 Feet

SARTELL, Minn. (WCCO) -- A Minnesota teenager is in critical condition after being shocked while climbing a bridge.

Daniel Fleigle, 16 of Sauk Rapids, grabbed an electrical wire while he was climbing an abandoned bridge in Sartell with friends Wednesday night.  He fell 30 feet before landing on the bridge deck, saving him from the Mississippi River water.

Sartell police officers were called to the scene shortly after p.m. Wednesday. When they arrived, they had to climb over beams and metal pipe to reach Fleigle, who was on the old bridge decking and unresponsive.

"We've never had an incident like this occur before," Sartell Police Deputy Chief Dale Struffert said.

Fleigle was attempting to climb to the top of the bridge when the accident happened.

After he fell, one of the friends called 911. One of the teens also tried CPR until pandemics arrived on scene and used 3 AED shocks to revive a pulse. Fleigle was still unconscious as he was taken to the hospital.

"This doesn't happen every day so having an incident like this especially with teenage children it's very difficult for everybody," Dep. Chief Struffert said.

The teenager was taken to a local hospital and then airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he is in critical condition.