DPW Worker Struck By Lightning On Soccer Field During NJ Storms

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — A Department of Public Works employee was struck by lightning Wednesday in the intense and fast-moving thunderstorm that just rolled across New Jersey.

Eric Baumgartner, 39, an 18-year DPW employee for the town, was painting lines on the soccer field at Iselin Middle School when he was struck, according to Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac.

Baumgartner was on the field at 12:21 p.m. with two other employees as the storm approached from the northwest.

"They were trying to get the fields ready before the rain," said Woodbridge DPW Director George Brew.

"They were using some kind of metal machinery to paint the lines, and he was struck," McCormac said. "He had burns on his foot and other parts of his body."

The man was knocked unconscious, and Woodbridge Police officer Robert "RJ" McPartland just happened to be on patrol one minute away. The officer rushed over and immediately started CPR and chest compressions, while the other two workers called 911.

"That officer saved his life," McCormac said, sounding extremely emotional over the phone.

He said the employee was unconscious and without a pulse until the officer immediately started CPR. McPartland is a certified EMT.

"I saw Eric out on the field. I immediately ran up to him; I checked for a pulse; he did not have a pulse," said the police officer. "It was apparent he was struck by lightning. He was still holding one of the machines; we were able to get that away from him ... We were trying to talk to him the whole time. Once we were in the ambulance, we got a pulse back and he did slowly begin to regain consciousness."

McCormac said Baumgartner is currently at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, and he could not speculate on his medical prognosis, as he did not speak to doctors.

"I just visited him in the hospital, where he is with his wife, and he's awake, alert and in good spirits," said the mayor of Baumgartner. "I walked in, and he said, 'Hey, Mayor Mac.' It's better than how it was looking when I first got the call, when the first words I heard were 'you better pray' because this just happened."

"We had to leave as doctors were coming in to do a medical procedure on him. But he's got some burn issues," he said.

"He knew who I was, but he wasn't exactly sure what happened to him," said Brew.

He is currently in stable condition, according to a statement put out by Woodbridge Township.

"I would say right now we have every reason to believe that RJ McPartland saved Eric Baumgartner's life," said the mayor. "I can't be prouder."

The strike was captured on doorbell camera by a local Woodbridge resident, who shared it with NBC.

"Hearing that he's doing well, that he's awake right now, is definitely a good feeling," said McPartland.

Here is a press conference Woodbridge Twp. held immediately after the lightning strike: Mayor McCormac, Woodbridge Police Director Robert Hubner, DPW Director George Brew and Officer McPartland addressed the media at the scene at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday: