Electrocution victims in stable condition

Published 9:17 am Monday, July 27, 2020

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LAGRANGE TOWNSHIP — Two men who were airlifted from a home in LaGrange Township Saturday afternoon after an accidental electrocution, are in stable condition, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Department.

The incident occurred when officers were dispatched to a home in the 61000 block of LaGrange Township at around 1:21 p.m. Saturday, after the men reportedly electrocuted themselves while moving a sailboat.

Austin Francis, 31, of Kalamazoo and Cassopolis, known in the Cassopolis community as the Ranger soccer coach, and his brother, Lane Francis, 19, of Cassopolis, were moving the sailboat when the mast struck a power line running into the house.

Both brothers were electrocuted and moved away from the boat by rescuers. CPR and automatic external defibrillators were administered to both brothers on the scene before they were transported by ambulance and helicopter for treatment at South Bend Memorial Hospital.

Sunday, the Sheriff’s Office reported that the men had been transported to a hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana and were in stable condition.

Pokagon Tribal Police, Cass Central Fire Department, Pride Care Ambulance and Med-Flight assisted deputies in this investigation.