Tragedy struck on Independence Day when a Colorado teenager visiting friends in Virginia lost his life after jumping into an electrified lake. Jesse Hamric, 18, was enjoying time with his family and friends at Smith Mountain Lake outside Roanoke when the unthinkable happened.
According to the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, Hamric entered the water and immediately his friends noticed something was wrong. Two brave individuals jumped in to help him, only to feel electricity coursing through the water. It was later determined that stray voltage from a nearby dock was the cause of the deadly shock.
Despite their best efforts, Hamric’s friends were able to pull him out of the water and perform CPR until first responders arrived. Tragically, Hamric was pronounced dead at the hospital, leaving his loved ones and community in shock.
A standout athlete at Steamboat Springs High School in Colorado, Hamric had recently graduated and was known for his positive attitude and infectious personality. A GoFundMe page has been set up to support his family and create the “Jesse Cyrus Hamric Foundation for Courage and Love,” which has already raised over $72,000.
As the investigation into this heartbreaking accident continues, the community is left mourning the loss of a young man who brought light and positivity wherever he went. Jesse Hamric’s memory will live on through the foundation created in his honor, serving as a reminder of the impact he had on those around him.
