A father suffered severe burns and may lose his hand after getting caught in live electrical wires while trying to rescue his daughter’s cat in Tijuana, according to his family. The incident happened around 11 p.m. on April 1 at a home in Tijuana, where 16-year-old Sherlyn Romero’s cat had be en missing for two days before it was spotted on a third-floor balcony. Alberto Romero climbed out to retrieve the pet, but became entangled in an electrical service drop. Romero’s wife, Guadalupe Romero Tosas, said he does not remember the incident. “He doesn’t remember anything about that because he wants to remember, but he couldn’t,” she said. Romero suffered third-degree burns to his arm, side, chest and face. Photos taken at the hospital show the extent of his injuries. In their home, Romero Tosas cares for his wounds as he continues to recover. “He feels pain in this area, it’s still open,” she said, pointing to the right side of his chest. Romero Tosas is a medical technician in Temecula. She said their daughter was determined to bring her cat inside that night. “When we saw the cat. She just wanted to run and get it. Because she love her cats,” she said. As Romero became trapped in the live wires, his wife rushed to help. “It was really horrible trying to get him back at the same time. I was terrified, and I have to do what I know how to do,” she said. She managed to free him from the power lines and began CPR. “When I screamed at him, ‘Stay with me,’ I don’t know if God heard me, but he started breathing,” she said. Family members said Romero’s instinct to help reflects his character. “That’s what my mom said, leave that cat alone, the cat is going to come back once it’s hungry. But the little girl wanted the cat,” said Kioni Romero, the victim’s cousin. The accident happened at the home of Kioni Romero’s mother in Tijuana. He said despite his serious injuries, Romero initially did not want to worry relatives. “At first, he was worried about the family, not so much about him, what the family is going through,” he said. Romero has since been released from the hospital, but his recovery remains uncertain. His family says he could still lose his hand, and it may take at least six months for him to get back on his feet. “I am just trying to be day by day. But it’s not easy. It’s not easy,” Romero Tosas said. Safety officials warn people to stay at least 10 feet away from electrical lines, especially when using tools or attempting to reach elevated areas. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less