At the HSE MENA 2025 conference, attendees were moved by a deeply personal and compelling story shared by Theo, an Australian worker and safety advocate.
Theo captivated the audience with a harrowing account of a life-altering electrical accident and the lessons he hopes will inspire safer practices across industries.
Theo recounted the morning that changed his life: while working on high-voltage power lines, he momentarily set aside his insulated gloves to finish what seemed like a minor task.
That decision triggered a catastrophic accident, 22,000 volts surged through his body, an event that experts later told him could have killed a thousand people or animals.
Safety and leadership
Against all odds, Theo survived, but the journey to recovery was long and arduous: seventeen surgeries in the first month, extensive hospital stays, and profound psychological challenges.
He spoke candidly about facing severe depression and the impact the accident had on his family, reflecting that, at his lowest, it was the thought of his children that gave him the will to fight on. Theo’s story is not only one of survival but of personal growth; he emphasised the necessity of personal accountability, listening to gut instincts, and maintaining a vision for a better future.
Drawing on his experience, Theo urged leaders and workers alike to instill habits of safety, courage, and authenticity, highlighting six key leadership lessons. His message echoed throughout the conference: “Learn from my mistake, don’t let a simple shortcut cost you everything.”
Theo’s powerful narrative, marked by vulnerability and purpose, inspired attendees to reflect on their own practices and recommit to fostering safer workplaces.
Afterwards, he offered to share his story further, hoping to reach even more organizations with his message of resilience, reflection, and responsibility.
