A 15-year-old Vermilion High School student died on Tuesday after electrocuting himself in his family's garage. Based on the reports, the victim, Morgan Wojciechowski, was trying to recreate a science experiment he found on YouTube called, "Jacob's Ladder."
Science Experiment Gone Bad
Wojciechowski was described by his friends as a "whiz kid," was trying to do his own version of the science experiment, "Jacob's Ladder." According to his parents, they were aware of their son's fondness to conduct experiments and said they proud of his ingenuity, Parenting notes.
Unfortunately, Wojciechowski's intellectual curiosity caused his untimely death on Tuesday after he got electrocuted while trying to conduct the "Jacob's Ladder" experiment. According to New York Post, his parents found him in the garage of their Vermilion Township home in Northern Ohio after they heard a lot of noise.
Erie County sheriff's officials said emergency crews were called to Wojciechowski's residence at around 6 p.m. Tuesday. The crews then took Wojciechowski to a hospital, where he was declared dead.
"There were injuries that were consistent with electricity flowing through someone's body, on hands, feet and chest," Detective Robert Rieger of the Erie County Sheriff's Office said, as per KTLA 5 News.
"Jacob's Ladder" Experiment
Wojciechowski was trying to recreate the "Jacob's Ladder" experiment on YouTube when he died. But what is a "Jacob's Ladder" experiment?
"Jacob's Ladder" is commonly found in science museums and is also seen in the background of science fiction movies in the '50s. However, this science project can be dangerous and should not be done at home since it involves a high-voltage voltage travelling arc of electricity between two parallel wires, The Wonders of Physics describes.
At Wojciechowski's home, Erie County Sheriff's Office chief deputy Jared Oliver said they found a microwave oven battery pack attached to an electrical outlet by extension cords. Authorities also found jumper cables going from the battery pack to two pieces of a wire hanger, which were reportedly intended to be used as the parallel wires for the electricity to travel along.
"This was not a school assignment," Detective Rieger told WKYC. "This was simply something he saw on the internet and wanted to experiment with."
YouTube Is The Culprit In Wojciechowski's Death
Wojciechowski's family believed it was his fascination with a YouTube video that led to his death. The victim's step-grandfather also said the tragedy could enlighten other parents to monitor the videos their kids are watching on YouTube.
"YouTube was the culprit," Wojciechowski's step-grandfather told Cleveland CBS affiliate WOIO-TV. "It needs to be stopped. We need to monitor what's being put out to our kids. There's no going back. This can enlighten other parents too."
Vermilion High School Statement
Meanwhile, Wojciechowski's school has released a statement regarding his tragic death. In a Facebook post, the local school district described Wojciechowski as a "vibrant student and athlete," Daily Mail reports.
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