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Old 19-09-2016, 16:55   #1
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Twenty year old Gulfport MS sailor critically injured via electrocution

I teach at Gulfport High in Mississippi and John Harrison Doucet was a student in one of my classes a few years ago. Sweetest kid you'll ever meet. He was backing his J22 into a parking space and, when it tilted back, the backstay hit a power line. Apparently he was holding the trailer by hand when it hit. Terrible tragedy for a wonderful sailing community at Gulfport Yacht Club and the Mississippi Coast.

Sun Herald Article
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Old 20-09-2016, 05:59   #2
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re: Twenty year old Gulfport MS sailor critically injured via electrocution

Lesson here for everyone else is always, ALWAYS check the area for power lines before you raise the mast on your trailer sailer! Power lines can be killers, but they are always right there, in plain sight, if you look for them.
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Old 20-09-2016, 06:40   #3
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re: Twenty year old Gulfport MS sailor critically injured via electrocution

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I teach at Gulfport High in Mississippi and John Harrison Doucet was a student in one of my classes a few years ago. Sweetest kid you'll ever meet. He was backing his J22 into a parking space and, when it tilted back, the backstay hit a power line. Apparently he was holding the trailer by hand when it hit. Terrible tragedy for a wonderful sailing community at Gulfport Yacht Club and the Mississippi Coast.

Sun Herald Article
Any updates on his condition? Hope he makes it!
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Old 20-09-2016, 16:00   #4
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re: Twenty year old Gulfport MS sailor critically injured via electrocution

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Any updates on his condition? Hope he makes it!
He's in Augusta GA in a specialized burn unit. Last I heard was that both legs were amputated and he was on dialysis. Very critical and doing skin graft surgeries over time.

GoFundme has raised over $100k. Just a super kid and a horrible accident.
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Old 20-09-2016, 17:51   #5
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re: Twenty year old Gulfport MS sailor critically injured via electrocution

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He's in Augusta GA in a specialized burn unit. Last I heard was that both legs were amputated and he was on dialysis. Very critical and doing skin graft surgeries over time.



GoFundme has raised over $100k. Just a super kid and a horrible accident.

He's got a long road ahead of him. I have a friend who lost both arms in an electrical accident 25 years ago or so, and today he's an accomplished triathlete, having finished multiple Ironman triathlons and cycled solo across America. He now does motivational speaking, teaching people how to overcome obstacles. There's video of him on YouTube changing a flat tire by himself with no arms! I hope your friend, once he's out of the woods, will be able to see that life is still precious and worth living to the fullest.

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Old 20-09-2016, 18:01   #6
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re: Twenty year old Gulfport MS sailor critically injured via electrocution

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He's got a long road ahead of him. I have a friend who lost both arms in an electrical accident 25 years ago or so, and today he's an accomplished triathlete, having finished multiple Ironman triathlons and cycled solo across America. He now does motivational speaking, teaching people how to overcome obstacles. There's video of him on YouTube changing a flat tire by himself with no arms! I hope your friend, once he's out of the woods, will be able to see that life is still precious and worth living to the fullest.

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It's my thought that he becomes a para-sailor. Still way too early to even think of it.

EDIT: thread title should read 'electrocution'
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Old 20-09-2016, 18:48   #7
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re: Twenty year old Gulfport MS sailor critically injured via electrocution

What a terribly sad story. All our good thoughts to the young man.
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Old 23-09-2016, 07:42   #8
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Re: Twenty year old Gulfport MS sailor critically injured via electrocution

This is a sad, tragic story. I just saw this thread, and yesterday posted another thread on the same topic, hoping to draw some attention to the young man's example (and GoFundMe help) and to how others should be careful parking boats for this reason.
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Old 23-09-2016, 07:58   #9
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Re: Twenty year old Gulfport MS sailor critically injured via electrocution

I'd encourage everyone to contribute to this young man's cause, and to provide encouragement to the family. Here's the GoFundMe page.

Let's show them some support from the broad and vast sailing community.

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Old 23-09-2016, 14:06   #10
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Re: Twenty year old Gulfport MS sailor critically injured via electrocution

Prayers for this guy and his family.

The newspaper ought to know better than calling it an electrocution, as it is defined as killing by electric shock.

Electrocution | Define Electrocution at Dictionary.com

verb (used with object), electrocuted, electrocuting. 1. to kill by electricity.

2. to execute (a criminal) by electricity, as in an electric chair.



--------------

You can get shocked, even very badly but without being electrocuted.
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Old 23-09-2016, 15:39   #11
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Re: Twenty year old Gulfport MS sailor critically injured via electrocution

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Originally Posted by iSaint View Post
He's in Augusta GA in a specialized burn unit. Last I heard was that both legs were amputated and he was on dialysis. Very critical and doing skin graft surgeries over time.

GoFundme has raised over $100k. Just a super kid and a horrible accident.

Ouch, trajic accident and a challenging future for him.

Hope this at least raises awareness.

I have a friend who lost part of an arm and his sailing buddy was killed in a similar accident.

Be cautious!
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