A Colorado teenager drowned after diving into an electrified lake in Virginia, police said. Daily Mail.
Jesse Hamrick, 18, was celebrating Independence Day with family and friends at Smith Mountain Lake in Huddleston. They were reportedly staying at a home that had a pier. Two of his friends attempted to jump in after Hamrick had already been in the lake, but were instantly electrocuted.
‘[E]”From the first time I met the boy, he’s one of a kind. When I see him, I see a smile on his face every time.”
They eventually pulled Hamrick from the water and performed CPR on him, but the boy died at a local hospital on Thursday. Local authorities believe Hamrick and two friends were electrocuted in the water. Reports suggest faulty wiring in the boat may have sent an electric current through the lake.
The coroner’s office is still investigating Hamrick’s death to determine the exact cause of his untimely death, and their report states that a boat lift near the scene of the horrific incident may have malfunctioned, contributing to the accident.
a Second Report Authorities tested the water and found electrical activity, and investigators are working under the assumption that stray voltage from a private pier is the source of the current in the water.
Shannon Lukens of Colorado’s KRAI radio station released the following statement after learning of the incident:
This young man is a 2024 graduate of Steamboat Springs High School. He was a former quarterback on the football team and also played on the baseball team. His father, Jay Hamrick, is the high school principal. His mother is a teacher at Strawberry Park Elementary School in Steamboat Springs. Below is a letter sent to families in the district from Steamboat Springs School District Superintendent Celine Wicks: This is very sad for our community.
“He was a great man,” said Hamrick’s friend, Alex Schwab.[e]”From the first time I met him, I knew he was a really special kid. When I look at him, I see a smile on his face all the time.”
A vigil for Hamrick was reportedly held in Steamboat Springs on Friday at a local Catholic church. “It still doesn’t make sense. It’s very upsetting,” Schwab added.
Two friends who helped Hamrick out of the water were also treated for injuries following the incident.
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