The Harrah community is grieving the tragic and heartbreaking loss of George Gouldsby, 19, who died following a jet ski crash Thursday evening at Lake Thunderbird, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
Troopers said the incident happened around 7:30 p.m. Thursday near the Hog Creek area of the lake. Gouldsby, a Harrah resident, was riding on a WaveRunner with a 20-year-old passenger from Oklahoma City when the WaveRunner entered a sharp curve, causing both occupants to be thrown from the watercraft into the lake.
Authorities stated that after being thrown into the water, Gouldsby never resurfaced. Emergency crews responded and a search effort was launched. Despite efforts throughout the night, he was not located until Friday morning, when a dive team recovered his body.
The passenger was pulled from the water by a person on shore and was transported to a hospital. Officials said he is expected to survive his injuries.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol confirmed that neither Gouldsby nor the passenger was wearing a life jacket at the time of the crash.
Witnesses also described dangerous conditions on the lake that evening. Camper Brian Corn said the weather was rough, with strong winds and whitecaps on the water, and noted that Lake Thunderbird has been unusually busy with heavy boat and jet ski traffic in recent days.
George’s death has left family, friends, and the community devastated as they mourn a young life taken far too soon. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
