LakeCumberlandBoaters.com

(Campbellsville, KY,) – Two people were almost electrocuted while swimming from the back of their houseboat Saturday afternoon around 3pm at Green River Lake. Beth Waite was swimming at the back of her boyfriend’s houseboat at Emerald Isle Marina when someone noticed Beth arch backwards and sink underwater. She managed to surface long enough to call for help. John Childress of Versailles, Ky. was helping the houseboat owner Bobby Gullett, work on his boat when he heard Beth’s cry for help. John then stepped onto the jet ski ramp on the back of the houseboat to pull Beth in when he noticed an electrical shock to his legs. He then reached out to grab Beth but received an even greater electrical shock and was unable to pull her to the boat. He then told Bobby Gullett, the houseboat owner to call 911 and to turn off all the electricity. Bobby shut off the main breaker and jumped into the water to save Beth and was instantly incapacitated from the electricity still flowing in the water. John was able the use a rope to grab Beth and Bobby and pull them back aboard the houseboat. Another houseboat owner saw what was happening and tried to swim over to assist but had to turn back around due to the electrical current in the water.

Beth Waite, age 42 was flown to U of L Hospital by Air Evac and Bobby Gullett, age 47 was transported to Taylor Regional Hospital by Campbellsville-Taylor County Rescue. Both were later released.

Electricians were called to find the source of the electric discharge and it was determined that the owners houseboat was the source of the electrical discharge into the water. His houseboat was disconnected from the dock until repairs could be made.

As often as you hear about this problem you would think there would be some kind of safety mechanism in place on boats. Kinda like a GFCI. I've never owned a boat with shore power so I can't say I'm very familiar with the set up though.

WOW, that's scary. I never swam off our houseboat in the marina but it was for the obvious reasons, fuel, oil, other boaters/jet skiers not paying attention, never thought about electricity! Good thing someone was paying attention! Hopefully both will have full recovery.