BELFAST – Eddie Elwell Jr. got a headache Wednesday, and he’s probably glad that’s all that’s ailing him.

He was resting comfortably at a local hospital not long after he escaped electrocution when his head touched an overhead power line while he was painting trim on the Main Street building housing Consumers Fuel Co.

Elwell, 45, of Belfast was working from a bucket truck shortly after 12:30 p.m. and was moving the bucket into position when he elevated the machine beneath a Central Maine Power Co. overhead power line.

At that point, Elwell’s head apparently came into contact with the line.

Elwell was wearing a baseball cap.

The electric shock knocked him off his feet, and he collapsed to the floor of the bucket.

CMP could not be reached to learn the wire’s voltage.

His employer, painter Joseph Mathieu, immediately lowered the bucket. Consumers Fuel employees Jerri Finch and Ralph Jewell, who is an emergency medical technician with the Searsport Fire Department, provided first aid to Elwell until Belfast Ambulance arrived.

Police Chief Allen Weaver said Elwell was alert within moments of being shocked off his feet.

“The fact that he had the baseball cap on may have resulted in his receiving only minor injuries,” Weaver said. “It must have been the hat that actually hit wire.”

He was resting comfortably at Waldo County General Hospital, with a headache his only complaint, Weaver said.

Weaver, who spoke with Elwell at the hospital, said he did not notice any burns on Elwell’s hair.

As is the case in any workplace accident, police notified the Attorney General’s Office. Weaver said he also planned to contact the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.