A has teenager tragically passed away after he jumped into an electrified lake while celebrating on the Fourth of July.
Jesse Hamric, from Colorado, was at Smith Mountain Lake in Huddleston with friends on Thursday (July 4) celebrating the day's festivities.
According to the Bedford County Sheriff's Office, the 18-year-old leaped into the lake and suddenly appeared to be in distress.
When two of his friends noticed something was wrong, they dove in to help him but also felt a shock the moment they hit the water.
Per WDBJ, all three individuals were hit by an electric shock near a dock.
Authorities said the friends, who suffered minor injuries, pulled Hamric out of the water and performed CPR until first responders arrived at the scene at around 4:00AM.
Hamric was then transported to a nearby hospital, where he was sadly pronounced dead, as reported by Steamboat Pilot & Today.
The teen’s official cause of death is yet to be confirmed, but investigators believe he was electrocuted.
An investigation by fire crews detected electrical currents in the water where Hamric tragically died, and officials believe it was caused by stray voltage spreading from a dock at a nearby private residence.
No foul play is suspected in the death.
Hamric, who was a football and baseball player, had just graduated from Steamboat Springs High School in Steamboat Springs. He was the son of the school's principal, Jay Hamric.
The school issued a statement on their website which read: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of a recent Steamboat Springs High School graduate."
"There will be mental health and crisis response professionals available to support as we process this difficult information and begin to grieve this incredible loss. Please take a moment to care for yourself, lean into those around you for support, and care for each other. Our thoughts are with all of you," they added.
The late teen's friend, Alex Schwab, told FOX31 that he was struggling to believe what had happened. “Still can’t even like process it. I’m so upset by it,” he said, adding that Hamric was an “amazing” snowboarder and a “one of a kind” person.
“Ever since I first met that kid, I mean, he’s like one of a kind,” Schwab continued. “You see him and you just, like, he always has a smile on his face.”
A GoFundMe page was created to support Hamric's family. As of this writing, $75,963 has been raised of the $100,000 goal.
"Please join us in supporting the beloved Hamric family," the page read. "They are true servants of our community who make life in Steamboat Springs better by all that they do and by who they are!"
"Jesse was a dearly loved friend, bringing light and positivity everywhere he went, and he will be missed every day," they added.
According to organizers, a fund is also being established with Yampa Valley Bank, which can accept direct deposits but does not assess fees.
Our thoughts are with Hamric's family and friends at this devastating time.
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