Police Investigating Drowning of 17-Year-Old Swimmer in Georgetown, Massachusetts

Georgetown Police Investigating Drowning at Pentucket Pond

Authorities have recovered the body of a teenager who drowned Saturday in a pond in Georgetown, Massachusetts.

Police responded to a call at 2:50 p.m. that a 17-year-old boy had gone missing while swimming. 

Local police and fire crews immediately responded to the area, and a dive team was requested. Divers from Beverly Fire arrived and entered the water just after 3:30 p.m.

Firefighter Dean Julien recovered the boy minutes later, about 30 feet from the shoreline and in 15 feet of water.

No lifeguard was on duty at the time of the incident, and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sunday afternoon, the Essex County District Attorney's Office identified the victim as Dewel Ortiz of Lawrence.

The pond is a popular place to swim. In the beach area, the water is only waist-deep, but if swimmers venture further out, it drops off and becomes much deeper.

"I grew up in town and it's disturbing," said Barbara Gosselin of Haverhill. "This is a holiday weekend to be shared by family and friends, and this is such a tragedy."

People are being asked to avoid the park Saturday as authorities continue to investigate.

Beverly Fire assisted police and fire crews from Georgetown in the search.

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