Addison Gload

Pictured is the Harbourside fountain following the incident.

Nate Davenport, 45-year-old father of four, was electrocuted in a fountain at Harbourside Place in Jupiter, Fla., on Oct. 22. 

At 3:29 pm, surveillance footage captures three kids playing near the fountain. Two of the kids fell in and Davenport jumped in to save them. After saving one of the kids, Davenport collapsed, leading his friend Seth Kozak to pull the other child out. Bystanders at the scene helped to pull Davenport out before giving him and the child CPR. Despite the quick response, Davenport died an hour later at Jupiter Medical Center. 

Lindsey Osteen, senior, was working at Tommy Bahama’s in Harbourside Place when the electrocution took place. 

“I was working when it happened, however, I didn’t see any of [what] went down,” Osteen said. “I know everyone was really upset and confused because nobody knew what was going on until everything was released later.”

Water contains charged particles and other minerals, which can work to conduct electricity that, in this instance, got into the water through a broken light. An electric shock causes electricity to enter the body, it can cause cardiac arrest or damage to the brain, which could lead to death.

“Water is highly conductive, so if you have an electrical wire that’s exposed, all of the water is then charged, so if you touch it, you can get electrocuted,” Teresa Thornton, environmental science teacher at JHS, said. 

The Town of Jupiter Building Department sent a letter to Harbourside Place saying some of the lights in the fountain were leaking electricity, causing the electrocution. The fountain is now covered until repairs can be made. 

Davenport was a Jupiter High School alumni and former member of the JHS football team, graduating in the Class of 1997. Many Jupiter High staff members who were once his teacher or his friend are now dealing with his loss and helping to support all those who were close to him. 

“He was a good student,” Michael Deleonardo, who taught him during his first year teaching, said. “He was a football player, so he had a lot of energy.” 

In response to his death, Davenport’s former teachers and friends came together to support his family. They also raised money at the home football game on Nov. 3.

“We had a table set up and we sold chocolate bars, and the proceeds from that went to his family, and SGA is also going to sell chocolate bars that football had leftover and we’re going to sell those and give those proceeds to Nate’s family,” Deleonardo said. 

In order to support members of our Jupiter community, SGA is now selling the extra boxes of chocolate and donating all of the proceeds to Davenport’s family. If you would like to be involved in this effort, chocolate is being sold for $1. 

“It’s always important to help anyone that needs assistance,” Dr. Thornton said. “Give what you can, do what you can for anyone.”