by One person died and four others were injured after being electrocuted while standing in a fountain at a shopping mall on Sunday.
Harborside Place, a shopping center in Jupiter, Florida, has a large fountain that doubles as an amphitheater at the edge of its complex.
Around 3.30 p.m. both the Jupiter Police Department and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue were called to the mall after reports of a possible drowning, the fire department wrote on Facebook.
Callers said there was a juvenile at the fountain who reportedly appeared distressed.
After authorities arrived, they found several people who may have entered the fountain to help the panicked child who had reportedly been electrocuted while in the water.
While eight people were assessed in total, five people had to be taken to hospital after the horrific incident.
“When we got to the scene, the Jupiter Police Department and the citizens were treating patients when we got here, so they got here very quickly, and the Jupiter community and police were also involved in that, and that was good,” the captain said. Tom Reyes of the Palm Beach Fire Department told WPBF.
While on the scene investigating the incident, ABC reported that Florida Power and Light (FPL) shut off the power to the fountain so that employees could find out how the tragedy happened.
Among the five injured were three children, all of whom were taken to St Mary's Medical Centre, a local trauma centre, where they continue to recover from the electrocution, police said on Facebook.
Police also confirmed that the other two people, both adults, were taken to Jupiter Medical Center, where one person was pronounced dead.
The other person has reportedly been released.
The fountain at Harborside Place with the ‘No Climbing' signs.
(Google Maps)
Police have yet to identify the dead victim and the other four who were injured.
Representatives from Harborside Place said the fountain has “No Climbing” written on the edge of the fountain to warn that the area is restricted.
“Our focus is on those involved and their families. We ask the community to join us in praying for them,” the mall said in a statement to WPBF-TV.
Police say the investigation into how the incident happened is ongoing.
FPL said in a statement to Fox35 that it is aware of the “serious incident” that occurred at the mall on Sunday.
“Our crews responded quickly to ensure the location was safe for first responders to access the area,” they said. “
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those involved.”
The independent contacted Harborside Place and FPL for further comment.
