A fundraising website for the UNC employee who was electrocuted working to repair a power outage on January 20 has already raised over $20,000.

Gaylan Bishop was working to restore power to Dey Hall on January 20 on UNC’s campus when he was electrocuted. According to a statement from the North Carolina Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Division he was injured when a “fault occurred in the transformer room.” Witnesses said they saw him running out of the building on fire before someone was able to put the fire out and call medical services.

Bishop spent several hours in surgery before being transferred to the UNC Burn Center.

Many buildings on UNC’s campus experienced power outages that same day.

The GoFundMe page has set a goal of $50,000 to help Bishop and his family cover their expenses.

According to the GoFundMe page, 40 percent of Bishop’s body was burnt in the accident and he is expected to remain in the burn unit until October.

The Department of Labor is investigating the incident and says it could take up to three to six months to complete.

Donate to “Team Gaylan”

Related Stories
‹
UNC Community Pledging Support to Sutton's Drug Store Amid COVID-19 Challenges
Members of the UNC community voiced concerned and then pledged financial support to a Chapel Hill staple this week. The News & Observer published a profile about Sutton’s Drug Store, the longtime grill and pharmacy on Franklin Street, on Monday. In it, owner Don Pinney shared the challenges the 97 year-old business faces amid the ongoing […]
Country Music Star Eric Church To Speak At UNC Spring Commencement
Eric Church, a ten-time Grammy nominated country music star, will deliver UNC's 2026 spring commencement speech.
Chansky's Notebook: The Future is...
After one-third of his first season with UNC, whatever Bill Belichick expected and hoped for is not exactly happening.
Years After UNC Career Ended, Sam Howell's TABLE Partnership Still Endures
Visitors to Bru’s Public House in Carrboro this past month may have seen a unique item on display: a pair of Sam Howell's NFL cleats.
2025 UNC Football Opponent Preview: Clemson
UNC comes off its first bye week of the season with a stern test at home, as reigning ACC champions Clemson will visit Kenan Stadium Saturday afternoon for the first time since 2019. The Tigers have themselves been mired in a challenging start to the season. After being ranked No. 4 in the AP’s preseason […]
The Monday Morning Huddle: No Overnight Fixes
UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi joined 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck this morning for “The Monday Morning Huddle,” presented by Chapel Hill Tire. The Tar Heels fell flat in Orlando in Week 4, losing 34-9 to fall to 2-2 on the season. After a bye week, Carolina will be back in action this Saturday […]
'I Never Wanted to Leave': UNC RBs Coach Natrone Means Details Decision to Stay in Chapel Hill
No one could’ve blamed Natrone Means if he wanted to leave his alma mater last December. The former star UNC running back had just seen his former coach and current boss, Mack Brown, fired. But Means, a North Carolina native who grew up rooting for the Tar Heels, couldn’t see himself anywhere else. “It’s a […]
UNC Volleyball Beats Wake Forest, NC State to Begin ACC Play
Carolina earned home wins against in-state rivals Wake Forest and NC State at Carmichael Arena during the weekend, sending the Tar Heels off to a 2-0 start in ACC play this season. Against the Demon Deacons on Friday, the Tar Heels led from the start in a three-set sweep. A 5-0 run late in the […]
Late Rally Helps UNC Field Hockey Avoid Second Straight Loss at Boston College
UNC rallied from a 1-0 deficit in the last nine minutes of play at Boston College Sunday, scoring twice late to steal a 2-1 win and avoid its second straight loss of the season. Battled together. Won together. Heels on top!#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/XUi0CQIeNz — Carolina Field Hockey (@UNCFieldHockey) September 28, 2025 UNC entered the […]
Art’s Angle: The Latest Mess
The storm brewing around Carolina football is familiar in some ways, but potentially more volatile than others we’ve experienced.
›