According to his family, David Moody of Piggott continues to recover from injuries he sustained Sept. 14, when he received a serious shock while cleaning up storm debris with a city electric department crew.

Following the incident, which occurred on Lewis Street in Piggott, Moody was transported to Piggott Community Hospital with severe burns. He was later transferred by helicopter to Memphis, where he has since undergone treatment and surgery.

Mary Moody reports that her husband underwent surgery on three of the fingers most severely burned, and that he continues to recover from the burns on his shoulder, back, leg and foot. She noted that he was expected to be moved to a rehabilitation center this week.

"He's doing a lot better, but he sure has been down in the dumps because he can't come home," Mary added. "He's also had to deal with a lot of pain, but he is doing lots better -- he's very lucky to be alive."

Moody, a certified journeyman lineman for the electric department, was assisting other personnel with a downed power line when the accident occurred. According to distribution supervisor Bruce Swan, a line that Moody was holding, which had been disabled, became energized when a small wire arced several hundred feet back up the line. The short, but very powerful, burst did result in severe burns but Moody never lost consciousness, according to reports from the scene.

According to Swan, the only positive aspect of Moody's injury was the renewed emphasis on safety within the electric department.