2nd boy dies from shock in Tenn. lake

The scene at German Creek Marina in Bean Station, Tenn., on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, hours after one boy died and another was critically injured from an apparent electrocution at Cherokee Lake. Authorities said it was uncertain whether the boys were electrocuted in the water or when they touched the metal ladder of one of the houseboats. / Saul Young,AP Photo/Knoxville News Sentinel

(AP) BEAN STATION, Tenn. - Investigators say a second boy has died after being shocked by a suspected faulty cord from a houseboat as they swam in Cherokee Lake.

Grainger County Sheriff Scott Layel said 11-year-old Nathan Lynam died Thursday night at Children's Hospital in Knoxville. Ten-year-old Noah Winstead of Morristown died at the scene Wednesday afternoon.

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Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency spokesman Matt Cameron said a marine surveyor was helping Thursday as investigators looked for the source of the electrical charge. The boys were shocked as they swam near two houseboats.

Layel said it wasn't immediately clear whether the boys encountered an electrical field in the water or if they were shocked when they touched a metal ladder to one of the houseboats.

[ugacrew]

Is it possible at all that some fruitcake could be out there on a boat deliberately making this happen for thrills? If so, could that be the reason why officials are finding it difficult to locate the source?

Just something to think about. I know absolutely nothing about electricity other than if you throw a hair dryer in the bath tub you will go up in smoke.

I had wondered why people on the scene were able to pull the kids from the water without being injured themselves. Perhaps the source of the electricity had deliberately been removed??

[jct87]

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jul/05/boy-11-extremely-critical-after-apparent-lake/

[knewsteerrrrr]

How shocking ;)

[parisdakar]

5 minutes with a multimeter and you could find the source. Rediculous that this happened a second time.

[aggietx2]

It's not a second time. They were shocked at the same time. The second child survived a few days longer at the hospital.

[kbbpll]

There were a number of carbon monoxide deaths involving houseboats about 12 years ago. It doesn't surprise me that there is another fatal design flaw.

[Hightside]

Shocking story

[ludvig1-2009]

Definitely an area where regulations are needed. Who wants to go swim in an area you think safe and then get electrocuted.

[Lerianis6]

I'm wondering why there was a cord from the houseboat in the water in the first place, if that is what happened. I could understand getting shocked on a houseboat if you got out of the water and 'dripped' on a faulty cord (though it shouldn't be enough of a 'zap' to kill you).

[knewsteerrrrr]

Doesnt need to be a cord in the water, could be as simple as a bad, damaged wire in contact with a metal hull or other part on the boat, a bilge pump, light fixture.