Massachusetts

16-Year-Old Boy From Rhode Island Drowns in North Attleboro, Mass. Pond

The 16-year-old boy from Providence, Rhode Island was at the Massachusetts pond with his family

A 16-year-old boy from Providence, Rhode Island was with his family on Sunday when he drowned in a North Attleboro, Massachusetts pond.

After a 90-minute search, authorities pulled the boy's body from muddy water about 30 feet offshore around 7 p.m.

North Attleboro Fire Chief Michael Brousseau says the Providence family reported their son had been swimming in Whiting's Pond and then went missing.

"And they didn't see him in the water anymore," Brousseau said. "Nobody was really sure if he was definitely even in the water but unfortunately that's where we located his body."

The boy's family watched as rescue crews pulled his body out of the water.

Chris and Jeanine Murphy also watched the recovery effort from their waterfront property.

"Horrible. Being a mother, terrible. I just feel so bad for the family," Jeanine Murphy said.

"It just tears you up inside," Chris Murphy said.

Chris Murphy added that, he "saw a whole lot of effort from the first responders. People in boats, people walking in survival suits up to their chests."

While officials do not know why the teen drowned, people who know the pond well say it's muddy, murky and deep.

"It's not dangerous, but there's no lifeguards. And there used to be life guards," Jeanine Murphy said.

"Of course there should be now," Chris Murphy added.

The teen has not been identified.

This is the ninth drowning this week in Massachusetts alone.

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