Ice bucket challenge turns tragic: Four men electrocuted

The “viral” Ice bucket challenge turned tragic yesterday when four firefighters got electrocuted after the ladder they were using to douse a group of students for the challenge hit a power line.

According to WHAS-TV, two of the firefighters, Tony Grider, 41, and Simon Quinn, 22, were airlifted to the University of Louisville Hospital, Grider is said to be in very critical condition.

Washington Post reports that the firefighters had used the ladder’s bucket to spray ice cold water on the Campbellsville University marching band. The challenge had been successfully completed when the ladder moved towards the power line and shocked the firefighters.

An eyewitness said: “We just heard a loud noise, a boom, you know, and the lights went out. At that point I’m thinking, ‘Oh my God, he’s dead or something.’ ”

A police chief, Tim Hazlette said that just being within three or four feet of a high-voltage line can cause the power line’s energy to arc into another object.

The two other firefighters, Steve Marrs, 37, and Alex Johnson, 28, were treated and released from the hospital.