A Colorado teenager died after jumping into an electrified lake while visiting a friend in Virginia on Independence Day.
According to the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, Jesse Hamrick, 18, was visiting friends in Virginia with his family when he jumped into Smith Mountain Lake outside Roanoke on Thursday morning. According to WDBJ.
After Hamrick entered the water, his friends realized something was wrong. They said they jumped into the lake to help him and immediately felt electricity in the water. Police later determined this was due to a power leak coming from a nearby residential pier. Firefighters also tested the water and found electricity in the water, WDBJ reported.
Friends pulled Hamrick, who suffered minor injuries, from the water and performed CPR until paramedics arrived on the scene around 4 a.m., police said.
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Jesse Hamrick (18, center) died when he jumped into Smith Mountain Lake outside Roanoke while visiting a friend with his family in Virginia. (GoFundMe)
Hamrick was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said. Steamboat Pilots and Today. His death is being investigated as an accident.
Smith Mountain Lake Marine Volunteer Fire and Rescue Lt. Ray Talley told WDBJ that homeowners who had electricity have been notified of the incident and are working with electricians to fix the voltage issues.
According to the Steamboat Pilot & Today, Hamrick was a recent graduate of Steamboat Springs High School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where he played football and baseball.
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Jesse Hamrick’s death is being investigated as an accident. (iStock)
A GoFundMe page was created to support the family and provide funds for the “Jesse Cyrus Hamrick Foundation for Courage and Love. As of early Monday morning, the fundraiser had raised more than $72,000.
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“Please join us in supporting the beloved Hamrick family,” fundraiser participants said. “They are true servants of our community and make life better in Steamboat Springs with all they do and their presence. Jesse was a dearly loved friend who brought light and positivity wherever he went and he will be missed every day.”
