Coroner ID’s father who was electrocuted in Palm Springs pool

A 43-year-old Northern California man was electrocuted over the weekend in Palm Springs when authorities said he jumped into a pool at a vacation home after his daughters were apparently shocked.

The Riverside County Coroner has identified the man as James Tramel of Burlingame. According to neighbors, Tramel’s family owns the house in Palm Springs, but the family resides in the San Francisco area and only travels to the Coachella Valley for vacation.

The man’s 9-year-old girl is in critical condition at Loma Linda Medical Center and his 10-year-old daughter is in stable condition.

People at the home were administering CPR to a man and his 9-year-old daughter when police and firefighters arrived, said Sgt. William Hutchinson. Police said the man had jumped into the pool after seeing his daughter electrically shocked.

A total of seven people were shocked in the swimming pool, and four have been treated and released. The incident happened during an Easter party on Sunday in the 2300 block of Yosemite Drive about 4 p.m.

The Palm Springs Police Department believes that faulty pool equipment may be to blame, but the exact cause is still being investigated. Other children were in the pool but far enough away from the faulty equipment that they were able to get out of the pool safely.

According to experts, a pools electrical components should be inspected at least twice a year.

“Lights are required by National Electric Code to be grounded and bonded and that is one of the primary things that should be inspected, that the grounding is intact the bonding is intact and the GFI is present and working,” said Stephen Little of Claro Pools.

The Palm Springs Police Department is encouraging people to check their pools for faulty pool equipment and corrosive wires regularly. Contact a local pool professional to have your pool inspected especially after a long period of non-use.