A Lakeland Electric lineman who was helping to restore power in New York and was attacked on Friday is speaking out.
John Applewhite, 34, is in the hospital to have surgery on his jaw.
Applewhite was with a crew from Lakeland Electric for more than a week to help restore power after Superstorm Sandy blew through the Northeast.
Crews were warned to be careful but by nightfall it was time for a relaxing dinner break. Applewhite and his co-workers had just spent 13 grueling hours restoring power to residents.
Applewhite and a fellow lineman were walking into a restaurant in East Hempstead at about 7:15 p.m. when a man drove by in a car and yelled at the two men, police said.
The man parked and got out of his car, and walked toward Applewhite, who was walking toward the man. When the two men met, Applewhite was punched in the face, he said.
“So I started walking up to him. I didn't have any reason to have my guard up at all and he just popped me as soon as I got close to him, kind of caught me by surprise,” Applewhite said. “I’ve taken licks before but never, nothing like that,” he said.
Applewhite said he literally saw stars before ending up back in Lakeland in a hospital bed.
Applewhite’s fellow lineman, John Barefoot, came to help, but the suspect bit him on the finger, then drove away.
Applewhite suffered a broken jaw and cheekbone. Several other facial bones were fractured as well. He was flown back to the Tampa Bay area on Saturday.
He said the incident won’t stop him from assisting areas that have been hit by storms. He said if he was asked to go again, he'd pack his bags and head out. But right now, Applewhite has to recover, which could take a month or longer.
Meanwhile, authorities in New York believe the storms could have indirectly sparked the assault.