Two Texas Boy Scouts were electrocuted while sailing on a catamaran that came in contact with an overhead transmission powerline. A third boy survived and was hospitalized.
It happened on Saturday during a Boy Scouts event at Lake O' The Lines, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said. Game wardens arrived at the Alley Creek area of the lake, near Avinger, about 2 p.m. to find the catamaran on fire.
One teen was found still on the boat while a second teen was found in the water not far away. Good Samaritans were administering CPR to a third boy who later was transported to Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana.
The Longview News-Journal identified them as Will Brannon, 17, and Heath Faucheux, 16, both of Hallsville, Texas. Thomas Larry, 11, was listed in critical condition on Sunday, the newspaper reported.
"You're talking about great young men, men of integrity," Hallsville band director Sherri Morgan told the crowd at a vigil on Sunday, the News-Journal said. "We're heart-broken, we're devastated. ... All is not lost, they leave a legacy. So, they are going to live on forever. … Thank you for all your prayers and all you're doing on their behalf."
All three were members of the Hallsville band as well as Boy Scouts.
"This is an extremely difficult time for our scouting family," Dewayne Stephens, East Texas Area Council, Boy Scouts of America executive, said in a statement. "… Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims' families. We will support them in any way that we can."
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott posted a message on social media supporting the families.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's boating accident reconstruction and mapping team is investigating the accident, the parks and wildlife statement stated.
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