Two boy scouts with a local Boy Scout troop have been pronounced dead. The two were aged 16 and 18, they were killed on Saturday when their sailboat hit a power line on an East Texas lake.
The third scout,11, was injured and is hospitalized from his injuries. The Scouts were sailing on Alley Creek at Lake O' The Pines near Avinger, Texas, when they lost control of their sailboat and hit a power transmission line.
The Scouts were from Boy Scout Troop 620 in Hallsville, Texas. After Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens arrived, they found the Catamaran sailboat on fire. The 18-year-old was found dead onboard the boat and a 16-year old was found in the water.
The 11-year-old was pulled by rescuers onto another boat and started CPR until he could be taken from the scene to LSU Medical Center-Shreveport.
A statement was released by East Texas Area Council, BSA Scout Executive & CEO Dewayne Stephens saying that the accident has caused an extremely difficult time for the Scouting family.
The statement said that the community was sad to confirm the deaths of two youth participants following a boating incident. Another boy has been airlifted to an area hospital after sustaining injuries.
Community members have set up a GoFundMe for the 11-year-old, who family members identified as Thomas Larry.
The mother of Thomas revealed that her son's lungs have not functioned on their own since the accident. He also received a blood transfusion at the hospital.
The KETK crews on scene say Upshur County Rural Electric Cooperative was on scene Sunday taking a look at the power line the boys hit. The Wildlife Department and Texas Parks is conducting the investigation.
