Young animal loving man died in Houston floodwaters trying to save his sister’s Maine Coon cat

‘Don’t touch me, go away! I’m dying,’ – Andrew Pasek in flood water carrying electrical current.

Andrew Pasek died in floodwaters because he was electrocuted. The water became live and rescue teams were unable to get him out and save his life. It is presumed that he died of drowning. His body has been recovered.

He was trying to rescue his sister’s cat, which happens to be a purebred Maine Coon, whose name is D’Artagnon. His sister, Alyssa, 27, had tried to get her cat to come downstairs when she left the flooded home. D’Artagnon refused to come. She describes her cat as not being that nice which I think is unhelpful but she was probably annoyed that he would not come with her. Not sure why she couldn’t have done something to get him but this was a difficult moment no doubt. Alyssa did not have a cat carrier so she left him upstairs with food and water.

Andrew wanted to check up on D’Atagnon because he loved animals, liked to help and was in the area. His sister agreed. He said it would be okay and she said, ‘please be safe’. He told her that he loved her and those were the last words he said to her.

Unbeknownst to Andrew, the electricity to his sister’s home and surrounding homes had not been turned off when there had been a controlled release of water from Addicks Reservoir which left the house flooded with 5 feet of water. Note: I find this strange because if houses are going to be flooded the authorities have to shut down electrical power because water conducts electricity and becomes ‘live’ just like a cable or wire.

Andrew had metal in his ankle due to surgery from after an injury in 2011 when a car ran over it. When in the water his foot touched a live wire. The metal in his ankle became live. He was knocked off his feet. Andrew’s friend was behind him. Andrew shouted to him not to touch him because he was carrying electricity within his body. His friend called 911 and then his mother who called Andrew’s mother.

As Andrew was in live water rescue workers could not get to him. As mentioned, it is thought that he drowned and burned. He was in the water for an hour and a half before the power was turned off so that rescue workers could retrieve his body.

People are asking why the electricity was not turned off. It does seem to be a serious oversight which costs this good young man his life. Andrew’s friend is severely traumatised by the experience, “he started hyperventilating. I had to put a cold rag around his neck and take him outside” said Andrew’s mother.

His mother describes him as a helper. She says that he wanted to help and it breaks her heart that she has lost him. There is no report as yet about D’Artagnon. I hope he is okay.

P.S. Andrew was an Eagle Scout who worked as an estimator for AsTech. He helped animals. For example he rescued stray animals and took them to the veterinarian. It is clear that he was a nice, helpful guy. A terrible tragedy.

P.P.S. A legal point: the authorities could be found legally negligent for not turning off the power because it would be foreseeable that someone would be hurt (if the story is accurate). However, my guess is that they would have warned people to leave their homes and not return.

Source: People.com