Electric Shock Drowning Incidents

Low level ground fault leakage in the marina AC shore power system can cause lethal potentials to appear on any metal surface – either on a boat or on the dock. In fresh water the electric field surrounding this surface can paralyze a swimmer. There is no warning that this condition exists, and it has resulted in numerous drownings. Further, there is no post-mortem evidence that electric shock was the cause. Therefore, the fatalities listed below are only the known electric shock caused drownings, which were investigated because of circumstantial evidence, i.e., multiple deaths, eye witnesses, considerable distress, cries for help, shock sensation reported by rescuers, etc.

We do not know the exact wiring errors or ground faults that created some of the incidents listed below, but it can be assumed that an energized AC lead (L 1 ) came in contact with a bonded (grounded) object, and coincidently, this object was not connected to the shore bonding (grounding) system. This caused a voltage to appear on bonded under-water metal gear, setting up a lethal field around the boat. This was true in every case that was investigated.

No database has been found that catalogs electric-shock drownings. The incidents listed below came from various sources, i.e., investigation, press, third party, and eye witness reports. Dates and details are missing for some. There is no way to know what fraction of the total fatalities this listing represents, but it may be reasonable to assume that it could be small.

Additional information is available at, http://www.marinaguard.net . Information provided by HARBOR MARINE Consultants, Inc.

1.	June 30, 2005	Scott's Creek Marina at Cave Run Lake , Moorhead , KY. A 19 year old girl drowned while in the water near a houseboat due to electric shock caused by a faulty A/C system with an ungrounded system on the houseboat. Another girl sustained burns on her legs while reaching into the water to help the victim. A nearby rescuer swam toward the scene and was shocked and paralyzed by the electrical field. He turned around and swam out of the field and survived.
2.	Sep 12, 2004	Ross Barnett Reservoir, Ridgeland , MI . A 16 yr old boy was swimming in the marina when he approached a houseboat. He screamed as if in pain and disappeared under the water. He could not be revived after divers recovered his body. A friend in the water also felt a shocking sensation. Details pending outcome of legal action.
3.	August 8, 2004	Lake Travis , Austin , TX . Young man, in good health, swimming, in evening, unobserved, between two sections of marina dock – disappeared. Came to surface two days later. No injuries or toxic substance found on post mortem. Suspected electric shock drowning. Accident under investigation.
4.	June 5, 2004	Lake Wylie , Charlotte , NC . Two young boys swimming at bow of houseboat called for help. Father of victim and friend rushed forward – boy on ladder said he was being shocked, other boy in water not moving. Friend rushed aft to pull shore cord as father went onto water – his son could not be resuscitated. May not be exact sequence. Causes of energized hull were substantial errors in wiring on the dock as well as on the boat, apparently done by non qualified individuals.
5.	Aug.3, 2003	Bull Shoals Lake , Bull Shoals, AK. Diver found Aug. 5 in shallow water 8 ft. from his dock, drowned. Incorrectly wired dock junction box caused 117 VAC to appear on metal dock components. Rescue diver reported feeling shock sensation 20 ft. from dock!
6.	June, 2003	Allatoona Lake , GA. Six wildlife fatalities (ducks!!) Houseboat pulled away from the dock and still connected shore power cord separated in middle and fell into water. Six dead ducks found floating nearby.
7.	May, 2003	Cape Coral , Florida . Double drowning, section of re-bar driven through power cable to back yard boat lift caused line potential to appear on lift frame, salt water.
8.	May 31, 2002	Lake Cumberland , Monticello , KY. Double drowning, fault on houseboat, fresh water. 125V plug at boat end of shore cord rewired by owner for 220V – L2 connected to “GR” pin - ground lead in 4 wire cord cut and taped off! Hull rose to line potential.
9.	March, 2002	Bay Marina Boat Works, Biloxi , MS . Some electrical work had recently been done at this yard, which resulted in reverse polarity connections at the shore cord receptacles for the stored boats. Over a short time period several boat owners reported being shocked as they worked on their boats, and one owner was electrocuted. The possibly of a missing ground combined with a gnd/neu connection on the lethal boat was not investigated.
10.	Sept.15, 2001	Farr Shores , Lake Hamilton , Hot Springs , AK . Girl in great distress, man attempting rescue drowns, ground fault on boat, fresh water.
11.	June 6, 2001	Residence, Timber Ridge Dr. , Dumfries , VA , Lake Montclair . Two young boys entered water near pontoon boat. Battery chargers (2) connected to modified extension cord from house. Electric shock drowning – cause of energized hull not reported.
12.	May, 2001	New Orleans , Electrocution – Boy using conveyor to transfer shrimp – no ground, salt water.
13.	April 10, 2001	Norris Lake , Lafollette , TN. Two teenage boys swimming behind house boat. One boy climbed onto swim platform complaining of feeling severe shock – other boy fell back from ladder– his head not below water (ventricular fibrillation?). Could not be resuscitated. Damaged power cable to boat, black lead energized hull, ground wire burned in two – breaker did not trip due to incorrect connection (may not be exact sequence).
14.	2000 or 2001	Put-in-Bay , Ohio , Grand Banks 42. Owner's prescription sunglasses went overboard. Young bystander disappeared while trying to retrieve glasses, electric shock drowning.
15.	Sept.30, 2000	Tims Ford Lake , Winchester , TN. Two boys (21&22). Electric shock drowning. Rescue diver felt electric shock Live wire in water near dock.
16.	August 1, 1999	Casselman's Marina , Portland , OR . 8yr old boy tubing with friends in freshwater marina along slow moving river. Boy decides to swim to dock (was wearing type 3 life vest). Suddenly he rolled over on back near the stern of a boat. Mother enters water and helps get boy on dock (she felt tingle in water). Diagnosed as electrocution (head was above water almost all the time). Cause was AC to DC short on boat and no connection between AC ground and DC ground.
17.	July, 1999	Lake Mohave , single drowning, fault on houseboat, missing ground, fresh water.
18.	July18, 1999	Cedar hill Lake, Smithville , TN. Two young boys, with flotation devices, were discovered in water, face down, a few feet behind a houseboat. 7 year old could not be revived. 8 year old recovered. Electric shock drowning suspected.
19.	July, 1999	S. Carolina , single drowning – 3 feet of water, woman in great distress, husband attempts rescue and drowns, fresh water.
20.	Approx. 1999	Rio Vista , CA . Several boys reported a tingle while swimming in this fresh water marina and got out of the water. A short time later two other boys, 8 – 10 years old, drowned at the same spot. Forty-year-old power wiring running under moored boats found to have substantial fault to ground because of insulation failure.
21.	Sept., 1998	Lake Sonoma , CA . Single drowning, young girl in great distress, fault on dock, fresh water.
22.	Approx. 1998	AF Base, Washington , DC , boy walking on ice slipped and grabbed exposed wires on dock that were supposed to have been de-energized, electrocuted.
23.	July, 1997	Lake Mead , NV . Single drowning, fault on houseboat, freshwater.
24.	Approx. 1994	Texas , single drowning, fault on boatlift, salt water.
25.	Sept., 1993	Oklahoma , single drowning, fault in submersible pump, fresh water.
26.	August 1993	Alexandria Bay , NY . Double drowning. Two teenage girls snorkeling near dock were paralyzed by electric shock and drowned. Fault thought to be in dock wiring, not confirmed. (Two bystanders attempted to enter water to lend assistance, but were unable to do so.)
27.	July, 1993	Oklahoma , single drowning, fault in dock lights – energized dock frame, fresh water.
28.	July, 1991	Oklahoma , single drowning, fault in dock wiring, fresh water.
29.	Dec., 1989	Oklahoma , single drowning, fault in submersible pump, fresh water
30.	July, 1988	Park Township , MI , Lake Macatawa , Bay Haven Marina . 18-year-old boy falls off dock, in great distress, two attempts to assist thwarted because of severe electric shock as rescuers entered water.
31.	1987 or 1988	• Gross Pointe Yacht Club, single drowning, diver, fresh water • Petosky , MI , single drowning, diver, fresh water. NOTE: Both incidents relayed 3 rd hand.
32.	July 29, 1986	Harrods Creek, Lexington , KY – Ohio River . About 2030 two dogs jump into water from owners 20 ft. runabout, and were observed to be in great distress. Owner's wife jumps in to help and was immediately in trouble. Husband goes in to save his wife – both drown. Rescuers felt strong electric shock and could not approach victims, but were able to rescue dogs later. Faulty light switch and missing ground on nearby houseboat determined to be the cause.
33.	Date Unknown	Wisconsin, single drowning, felt tingle, disappeared, fault on boat, fresh water (from Boat US )
34.	Date Unknown	Community swimming pool in Oklahoma , 10 year old electrocuted while inserting coins in a soda vending machine. Power cord damaged by one of the 4 legs, grounding pin on plug missing, machine chassis later measured at nearly line voltage, NO GFCI.

1.	July 2005	Brooklyn , NY . A diver went into the water behind a boat in this small, private marina. He surfaced seconds later complaining about tingling and pain in his arm. A probe in the water measured 40vac to ground behind the boat. Cause was determined to be a neutral-ground short on a recently installed water heater (although there was most likely a bad ground too at that pedestal to cause this). He was wearing a short, spring wet suit.
2.	July 2004	Sacramento River , CA . Man entering water around several boats (being supplied by genset power from one of the boats) receives shock in water. Two other men jump in to rescue man. One of the 2 rescuers became imperiled. Generator secured immediately. Mis-wiring on one boat caused a ground fault which introduced current in water.
3.	May31, 2004	Lake Barkley , Grand Rivers , KY. After receiving permission from marina two adult women went swimming near their rented houseboat. As they started back to the boat from the swim slide entry point both felt a strong electric shock sensation, and had the presence of mind to swim away from the boat! A relative entered the water and felt the same thing – which disappeared when the boat was disconnected from shore power. Close call was brushed off by staff so no action was taken to locate source of fault current. A fatality waiting to happen!
4.	August, 2003	Green River, Campbellsville , KY. Marina manager using Hioki clamp-on ammeter checking shore cords for leakage and discovered one houseboat with 4 amps on one of two shore cords. Hull potential to dock ground 8 VAC and owner commented that one of his children reported a tingle in the water!! Boat had just been reassembled after being trucked from Texas and problems were being experienced with 120 VAC deck light. Deck lights were rewired and neutral / ground fault in inverter was cleared – leakage current no longer exists.
5.	July, 2002	Allatoona Lake , GA. Three swimmers in great distress near houseboat, by stander pulls shore cord, all saved, one spent several days in hospital, fresh water, and fault on boat.
6.	Fall, 2002	Lake Murray , SC. Swimmer reports strong tingle, hi-level fault currents in dock frame, fresh water.
7.	Date Unknown	Man jumps into water to rescue dog, feels high level tingle, cause unknown, fresh water.
8.	2002-2003	Florida , interviews with divers – many reports of high level tingle while cleaning bottoms, all salt water, and no fatalities.
9.	Date & location Unknown	Swimmer feels a tingle as his hand enters the A/C discharge stream. Caused not determined, salt water.
10.	July 3, 1998	Lake Chelan , Chelan, WA. 21 year old exiting water – shocked on swim ladder – 48 hours in the hospital – rescuers shocked.