31-Year-Old Man Electrocuted to Death After Trying to Save Dog During Thunderstorm: 'A Sad Day'

The unidentified victim ran outside to rescue his dog before he was also electrocuted by downed wires, authorities said

<p>Anne Arundel County</p>

Anne Arundel County

A 31-year-old man was electrocuted to death after he tried to rescue his dog during a thunderstorm.

The Anne Arundel County Fire Department (AACFD) said in a news release that they received multiple 911 calls on Sunday, June 30, around 5:30 p.m. local time, alerting them that trees and wires were down throughout the area of Severn, Md.

"Crews on the scene reported several large trees down in the area additionally, multiple power lines were down and arching," the AACFD said. "Due to the size and scale of the incident, the initial crew requested additional resources."

Related: Florida Man Electrocuted and Killed While Trimming Trees

"During the initial size up of the incident, crews located one adult male suffering from injuries from electrocution," the department said, adding that the victim was transported to the Baltimore Washington Medical Center in critical condition before he "would later succumb [to] his injuries."

Authorities said the preliminary cause was due to "energized electric wires" that were pulled down by falling trees during the severe thunderstorm.

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Related: Texas Dad-to-Be, 20, Dead After Getting Electrocuted While Trimming Tree: 'Tragic Loss'

According to NBC affiliate WBAL, the downed power lines landed on a metal fence that spanned several properties. The victim has not been named at this time but identified as a 31-year-old man.  

Anne Arundel County firefighter Steven Bishop told the outlet, "There was a dog next to that fence who sadly got electrocuted. From that electrocution, the dog's owner heard and came running out to try and save the dog and sadly got electrocuted as well."

Related: California Girl, 9, Dies After Being Electrocuted in Her Family's Pool: 'She Was Taken Far Too Soon'

"It's just a sad thing, him and his dog," Jeff Wunder, a resident, told WBAL. "It's just a sad day."

The incident reportedly remains under investigation. PEOPLE has reached out to the AACFD for more information.

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