Universal won't be cited for electric shocks at water park

ORLANDO, Fla. - Federal investigators say Universal Orlando Resort won't be cited for electrical problems that led to lifeguards getting shocked at its water park, saying the resort was unaware something was wrong.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says in a report released this week that five lifeguards reported receiving electric shocks last June at the Volcano Bay water park. The lifeguards were taken to a hospital for observation after they reported feeling tingling in the water. They were released the same day.

Parkgoer Wendy Lee will never forget that moment she jumped out of the lazy river pool back in June.

"I was feeling the tingling all throughout my body and had ringing in my ears, so I could hear it and I had a metallic taste in my mouth," she said.

In a report released by OSHA, electrical wiring was damaged during construction and sent a current through the ground.

Lanny Floyd teaches electrical system safety at the University of Alabama.  

We asked him what he thought of the report and how this could happen. 

"A underground electrical cable had been damaged when a ground rod was driven into the ground. It's important for making sure any current in the ground flows through the ground shield and not through the surface of the ground or concrete," he said.

While he says it’s a complex project, it could have been avoided. 

"It can be easily preventable if you have good coordination with drawings to show where underground lines are,"  Floyd said.

According to the report, a Universal employee told investigators that engineers measured 20 to 30 volts on a sidewalk. Lee says, "It only takes 50 to be fatal."

She thinks Universal should take some of the blame

"I think they should be held accountable," Lee said. "First of all, my incident was reported early in the morning. I know the incidents with the lifeguards didn’t happen til the afternoon." 

Lee says she'd be afraid to go back in the water at Volcano Bay.

She says Universal gave her fast access to the rides after the incident, but says no one ever called to apologize or check on her.

Universal spokesman Tom Schroder says the problem is resolved and the park is safe.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.