Local man injured during Superstorm Sandy cleanup

A New London man helping Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts is now recovering from a shock that nearly killed him. Brad Diem suffered an electrical shock so severe emergency workers had to revive him. Now he's recovering in a hospital in Pennsylvania.

When Russ Diem found out his younger brother Brad was shocked by 5,000 volts of electricity, his own heart dropped.

"You're so helpless. I couldn't be by my family. And the unknowns... when they said what happened, I mean who survives something like that?" Russ asked.

Brad Diem did. He was up and able to walk Tuesday.

"He's doing fine, I mean, he's doing great. It's hard to believe. The doctor said he shouldn't be here," Russ told FOX 11.

The doctor said that because Brad's heart technically stopped after he was shocked Monday morning.

Russ explained that his brother was working with a contractor in New Jersey, cleaning up from Hurricane Sandy. According to Russ a downed power line electrified Brad's truck just as he reached in for a rake.

"They brought him back. The helicopter got there and flew him to Pennsylvania," said Russ.

Brad is now recovering at Temple Burn Center in Philadelphia. He will need surgery to repair severe burns on his leg.

Russ told us Brad is strong and will recover stronger than ever.

"What else can I say? He's my little brother!" exclaimed Russ.

Russ said Brad is surrounded by family members now, he wishes he could be one of them.

"Oh, it's a good thing. We're a tight family. When something like this happens and you can't be there it's..." said Russ trailing off, “It's not easy to deal with or describe.”

We did reach out to the contracting company Brad was working for, but have not heard back.

A representative from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration tells us there will be an investigation into what happened.