Adult electrocuted to death rescuing drowning kid from shopping centre fountain

24 October 2023 , 19:15

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The Jupiter Police Department announced Monday afternoon one adult was killed and four others were injured (Image: 25 WPBF)

A freak electrocution incident at a fountain area of a Florida shopping centre resulted in the death of one adult, according to local authorities.

The Jupiter Police Department announced the death of the person - who has not yet been identified - on Monday, sharing that four others were also injured when the electric shock occurred at Harbourside Place on Sunday.

Following the incident, three children and two adults were rushed to a local hospital, WPBF reports. As of Monday afternoon, the three kids that were shocked were said to be recovering at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach.

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The electric shock occurred at Harbourside Place on Sunday (25 WPBF)

One of the adults that was shocked was released from Jupiter Medical Center while the other adult was pronounced dead at the hospital after being transported to that hospital, as well.

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In total, eight people were evaluated for injuries at the scene. Three adults who were injured declined medical treatment when asked by authorities.

An investigation conducted by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue found that at approximately 3.30pm, one of the kids first went into the fountain and started having distress. It was initially believed that that juvinile was suffering from a possible drowning, according to the original report.

In total, eight people were evaluated for injuries at the scene (25 WPBF)

It was then that others rushed to assist the youngster, only to suffer from electric shock in the water. Firefighters have said that it is currently unclear exactly how the electric shock was possible in the area. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

“When we arrived on scene, the Jupiter Police Department and civilians were treating patients when we got here, so they got here very quick, and the community and Jupiter police were also involved in that, and that was a good thing,” said Capt. Tom Reyes of the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.

Power was cut out in the area while authorities investigate the scene (25 WPBF)

Local utility provider Florida Power & Light shut off power in the region as authorities worked to gain insight into what led to the shocking ordeal.

The incident comes just a few weeks after a single mum in Brazil died after she was electrocuted while washing clothes.Amaila Maria da Cruz Werlick da Silva, 37, was standing barefoot in a puddle of water in her home in Povoado Tibiri, a rural area of Sao Bras, in Alagoas,Brazil, when she suffered the electric shock that killed her on October 11.

Her daughter, who has not been named, told local media that her mother had been handling the washing when she was zapped by the washing machine, which was plugged into a 110v power outlet. Amaila had gone to unplug the device and was reportedly electrocuted when she touched a live wire.

Matthew Wright