Huddleston, VA – A tragic incident unfolded at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia, where an 18-year-old teenager from Colorado lost his life after jumping into what is believed to be an electrified lake. Jesse Hamric was attending a Fourth of July celebration with his family and friends when the unimaginable happened. While swimming in the private lake, two of his friends also felt an electric shock upon entering the water.
Efforts were made to rescue Hamric from the lake, and CPR was performed, but sadly, he passed away at a local hospital on Thursday. Authorities suspect that faulty wiring on a nearby boat could have caused an electrical current to flow through the water, electrocuting Hamric and his friends.
Medical examiners are currently conducting an autopsy to determine the exact cause of Hamric’s untimely death. One report mentioned the presence of a boat lift near the incident area, raising the possibility of a malfunction that led to the tragic accident.
Further investigations have revealed that the water in the lake was indeed electrically charged. It is believed that stray voltage from a privately owned dock could be the source of the current in the water.
The devastating news has deeply impacted the community of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where Hamric was a beloved figure. He was a former quarterback for the local high school football team and was actively involved in baseball. Friends and acquaintances described him as a bright and cheerful individual who always wore a smile.
Hamric’s two friends who were also affected by the electrical shock while trying to assist him received medical treatment for their injuries.
Authorities are committed to thoroughly investigating the incident and ensuring that all necessary precautions are taken to prevent such a tragedy from occurring in the future.