Sebastian River High School senior drowns in beach graduation celebration
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – A Sebastian River High School senior drowned during a graduation celebration at a beachside park, according to law enforcement and school district spokespersons.
The student was not identified by name but in a statement from the School District of Indian River County a spokesperson said he was 'a beloved member of the SRHS band' set to graduate May 15.
Law enforcement, fire rescue and a lifeguards were called around 1:45 p.m. to Treasure Shores Park in the 11300 block of A1A, roughly 10 miles northeast of the high school, said Lt. Kevin Jaworski, with Indian River County Sheriff's Office and Deputy Chief David Rattray, with Indian River County Fire Rescue.
The 18-year-old was pulled from the water by bystanders and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed and the teen was taken to Sebastian River Medical Center, said law enforcement and fire rescue officials.
The student was caught in a rip current and pulled underwater for several minutes, according to the emailed school district statement. Although there were 'extensive rescue and lifesaving efforts,' the student was pronounced deceased at a hospital.
Treasure Shores Park is not one of the county's four parks where lifeguards are stationed. Lifeguards are at Round Island, Tracking Station, Wabasso and Golden Sands beaches; and city lifeguards are at three city beaches, Humiston, Jaycee and South.
Jaworski in a statement said the gathering at the park was part of a celebration ahead of graduation.
'Throughout this week, (SRHS) has been honoring its seniors with a series of final celebrations to mark the end of their time together,' according to the statement provided by spokesperson Cristen Maddux. 'After today's culminating event, a group of students went to the beach, where the tragic incident occurred.'
The student gathering at the beach was not a 'school-sponsored activity' and occurred after school hours, Maddux said in the statement.
An end-of-the-year band concert scheduled for the same day, May 9, was cancelled and the school district said grief and support services would be on campus for students.
In 2021, a St. Edward's School student, Bidensky "BT" Termidor, drowned in a school graduation celebration tradition in which senior students jump into the Indian River Lagoon.
(This story was updated with a video and new information.)
Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreyarwood, or reach him by phone at 772-978-2246.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Sebastian River High School senior drowns during beach graduation celebration
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