Girl, 10, electrocuted playing in lagoon with friends in Toms River
TOMS RIVER, N.J. (WPVI) -- A 10-year-old girl has died as a result of being electrocuted in a lagoon while visiting a friend in Toms River, New Jersey, police say.
Police were called to the house on the unit block of Tobago Avenue at 8:12 p.m. Saturday for the report of a possible electrocution of a girl.
Initial reports say the Kayla Matos and two friends were using an inflatable raft and swimming in the lagoon behind the home.
Two of the girls touched the rail to a metal boat lift. Police say the electric current appears to have energized the equipment causing the fatal injury.
The girls were wearing life-jackets and in the presence of adults, police say.
RELATED: Teen's death prompts warnings of electric shock drowning
Adults at the scene began CPR on the girl; arriving EMS units took over and then transported the child to the Community Medical Center in Toms River where she passed away Sunday morning.
Kayla, a resident of Newark, New Jersey, was visiting her friend's home in Toms River, police say.
The two other girls were evaluated at the scene and determined to not be injured.
Jessie Lopez, a relative of Kayla said, "It's like a nightmare we're living in. It's just not real. Just not real. She was just a little girl. She loved just simple things. She was very excited for a dance coming up. It's just very sad. She will be truly missed."
Elsewhere on the same weekend, a 19-year-old man was also fatally shocked.
It happened in Put-in-Bay, Ohio.
Officials say he was electrocuted by electrical current near his family's boat.
After two tragedies around boats and water this weekend, Action News traveled to Penn's Landing Marina to ask Dock Master Jim Picuri his advice on how to prevent such accidents.
"We don't allow anybody in the water.... " said Picuri. "(You) can't sit on the dock dangling your feet. We don't allow Jet Skis (because) they create wakes and splash up," creating a potential hazard.
Picuri says anyone using electrical equipment around their boats should make sure circuit breakers are turned off before power cords are plugged in.
Only after the cord is connected should the breaker be turned on.
Above all, Picuri advises, stay aware and observant when using or connecting electrical equipment in or around docks or boats.
----------
Send a breaking news alert
Report a correction or typo
Learn more about the 6abc apps
