Cudahy teen electrocuted, dies

He grabbed power line from 4th-floor balcony

By SHEILA B. LALWANI and ANNYSA JOHNSON slalwani@journalsentinel.com

Posted: July 9, 2006

Andrew Flick brushed against death several times.

Advertisement His mother, Debb Walker, remembered when he developed meningitis as a baby, ran temperatures as high as 104 degrees and broke into convulsions - but recovered.

When he was in elementary school, an off-duty police officer saved Flick from nearly drowning.

"He was always in the wrong place," Walker said. "We always said we had a guardian angel. I guess the guardian angel was sleeping (Saturday) morning."

Flick, 19, of Cudahy, died after he was electrocuted and fell from a fourth-story balcony in the 1400 block of N. Farwell Ave. on the city's east side, Milwaukee police said.

Witnesses said Flick, who was a 2005 graduate of Cudahy High School, was at the building with friends when he wrapped his legs around the balcony's banister and, with both hands, grabbed nearby electrical wires.

Milwaukee Police Capt. Deb Davidoski said Flick appeared to have died from electrocution, rather than the fall. She said alcohol might have been a factor.

Friends said Flick told them Friday that he wanted to grab the power lines and that they discouraged him, according to Davidoski.

She said a young woman who reached out to stop him Saturday could feel the electricity surging through his body before she could reach him.

"It's a good thing she didn't touch him, or we'd have two people dead," Davidoski said.

Flick's family gathered on Saturday to remember Flick as a loving man, sports enthusiast and rising talent. His dream was to travel, marry and have lots of babies.

He also showed an interest in becoming a police officer.

"Andrew was remarkable," said Ruth Ann Flick, an aunt. "He could meet you, and you would feel like you instantly know him. He was a star. He was beautiful."

His mother said Flick had worked as a printer at a graphics business but was taking the summer off to think about the next step in his life and to spend time with friends and his new girlfriend.

"I love him," Walker said. "I just wish he wouldn't have done it. I just think he was trying to show off. He'd always say, 'It won't happen to me, Mom.' "

"You never think you're going to bury your son," she said.

From the July 9, 2006 editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Submitted on 07/09/2006

Submitted by: John and Edie Zutz
Reference: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
Yet more background detail on the young fellow who was zorched and fell four stories. Whereas I really think this may be a contender, the more background info we have on a victim, the better for the final write-up! Here ya' go, Darwin! :-)

Fitzroy said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
This has even more information on a popular subject for submissions. If it were not for the age concern I would have no doubts about this one.

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