1 Missing, 4 Injured in Possible Electrocution at Arizona Marina

One person is missing and four others were hurt in what officials believe was an electrocution incident at an Arizona lake on Sunday. Two people were transported in critical condition to a hospital from Scorpion Bay Marina on Pleasant Lake in Peoria, AZ, according to Capt. Mario Bravo of the Peoria Fire Department. Two other people reportedly refused aid at the scene.

Possible ESD

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office was working to retrieve the body of a fifth victim from the lake, which is about 40 miles northwest of Phoenix. Firefighters were initially dispatched for a call of a drowning, but received additional information while en route that suggested the incident could have been electrocution or electric shock drowning.

Firefighters were forced to weight between 8 and 10 minutes until the electricity at the marina was secured before they could enter the water. The situation remains under investigation.

Incidents like this are the reason why the Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association was formed to raise awareness about electric shock drowning (ESD). The organization is a 501(c) non-profit and its website, electricshockdrowning.org, has guidelines and recommendations for marinas and boat owners. One of the group’s primary missions is to get people to stop swimming near boats in marinas.

The biggest problem with ESD is that there’s no warning. A person jumps in the water and if there’s stray current, he/she can be instantly paralyzed. The problem becomes exacerbated because the natural reaction is to jump in to assist and now there are more people in the water.

If the person can swim after jumping in, direct him/her to head away from the boat or dock. Additionally, potential rescuers can get in a non-metallic boat and try to pull the victim away from the source of the current until the electricity is turned off.