An electrified lake claimed the life of a Colorado boy who was celebrating Independence Day with pals in Virginia.
Authorities in Bedford County, Virginia, confirmed that 18-year-old Jesse Hamric leaped into Smith Mountain Lake near Roanoke on Thursday morning while on a family visit to Virginia friends.
As Hamric dove into the water, his companions soon realized something was amiss. Deputies said that the two individuals who dove into the lake to aid him felt electricity. It was traced to stray voltage from a dock at a neighboring house. Fire firefighters conducted water testing and found electrical currents.
Until emergency personnel arrived at the location at about 4 a.m., the friends—who had minor injuries themselves—were able to rescue Hamric from the water and provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), according to deputies.
According to Steamboat Pilot & Today, deputies said that Hamric was taken to a hospital, but he was later pronounced dead upon arrival.
According to Assistant Chief Ray Talley of the Smith Mountain Lake Marine Volunteer Fire/Rescue, the homeowner whose house the power was originating from has been informed about the event and will need to hire an electrician to resolve the voltage problem (RDBJ).
Hamric, a former football and baseball star at Steamboat Springs High School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, had just graduated.
Jay, Hamric’s father, is the principal of Steamboat Springs High School, where Jesse was an outstanding athlete. For the last two years, he was a standout baseball player and quarterback. The graduate was also very enthusiastic about snowboarding.
The close-knit Colorado community is recalling Hamric’s infectious energy as they grieve his loss.
According to Alex Schwab, Jesse’s close friend, the snowboarding community has really rallied in light of the sad news. His friend added that he was truly an exceptional human being and that he was always happy.
