A high school senior who vanished while swimming in a South Jersey lake on Sunday night has been found deαd, confirmed Pitman Police Chief Dan McAteer.
McAteer confirmed that Victor Rodriguez, 18, a “standout” wrestler for Pitman High School, was revealed to be the victim.
The body was found in Alcyon Lake in Pitman on Monday afternoon by the New Jersey State Police, who then turned it over to the Gloucester County Medical Examiner’s Office, as confirmed by officials.
Around 8:30 p.m., trouble started. Authorities claim that the teen drowned on Sunday while swimming across a lake.
He was distressed when a friend and a spectator not in the water noticed him and swam out to try to assist. Police say that after trying to find the swimmer but failing, they returned to dry land.
Emergency teams were sent to the lake at 8:42 p.m., as reported by officials.
According to a description on the GoFundMe page set up by Rodriguez’s family, Rodriguez was swimming in the lake when he was engaged in a scavenger hunt. As of Monday night, the fundraiser had already collected more than $25,000 in donations in a short period of time.
If you want to know more about this news, let’s see this tweeter post given below:
Officials say a swimmer is still missing more than 12 hours after crews set out on an extensive search at a Gloucester County lake. https://t.co/NrR1KjMply
— FOX 29 (@FOX29philly) June 13, 2023
“It is with deep regret that we inform you about a recent loss to our school community,” the Pittman School District announced.
“Earlier today, we learned that Victor Rodriguez, a senior at Pitman High School, passed away after a recent drowning incident. On behalf of the board of education, administration, and staff, we offer our sincerest condolences to Victor’s family and friends.”
The 17.5-acre lake has a depth of 10 to 12 feet. McAteer stated that the region is prohibited from swimming, and it is pretty dark at night, making patrolling challenging.
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A social media post indicated that Pitman High School postponed all Monday tests but remained open to students needing emotional support. The district has not yet shown whether its Wednesday graduation will be delayed.
In his lone season of competition at Pitman, Rodriguez had a 30-8 record at 132 pounds, making it to his first district championship and advancing to the region quarterfinals twice.
He contributed to the Panthers’ 19-9 record and the Tri-County Conference Classic Division championship, despite the team frequently forfeiting many weight classes.
After starting as a junior and spending his first three seasons at Deptford High School, Rodriguez concluded his career with a 54-22 record between the two institutions.
At Pitman’s United Methodist Church on Monday night, residents from Deptford and Pitman gathered for a vigil where speakers discussed Rodriguez. The top and lower seating areas were almost entirely full of people.
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