Teenager drowns in MWRA reservoir, despite rescue bid
Published on July 12th, 2006
STONEHAM,MA - Stoneham was the site of the second drowning death in the last four years Tuesday afternoon, as an 18-year-old Roslindale resident drowned while swimming illegally at the high pressure Fells reservoir - despite heroic efforts by local police department forces to save the struggling teen.
The victim's name has not been released by Stoneham or State Police officials.
According to Stoneham Police reports, emergency officials were alerted to a 911 call placed to Malden Police about a possible drowning victim at the high pressure reservoir in the Fells at roughly 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday.
Because the emergency call was originally placed to Malden and the problematic nature of finding the victim in a remote part of the reservation, it was several minutes before local emergency officials reported to the scene. A local walking his dog had already begun attempting to rescue the victim after he had submerged nearly 40 feet into the reservoir.
Stoneham Police Officer Dave Stefanelli, who "reportedly had been swimming laps prior to the emergency call" grabbed his swimming goggles and gear and hustled to the reservoir scene.
Stefanelli, along with Officers Dave Thistle and Massachusetts State Trooper Jay McCarthy, first tried to pull the victim from the bottom of the reservoir, but the body proved to be too heavy to bring to the surface.
Stoneham Police Officer Joe Ponzo arrived with an orange flotation ring used by the Stoneham Fire Department, and the police tied a rope to the flotation ring, and then attempted to get the knotted rope around the victim's ankle.
During a last frantic attempt to rescue the underwater victim, Stefanelli managed to loop the rope around the victim's ankle and the combined fire and police officials pulled the victim to the shore - where emergency workers administered CPR and sent him to Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Medford.
"Once the call went out, everybody really converged on the reservoir area and the entire group that reported to the scene deserves credit for doing everything they could in a very difficult situation," said Stoneham Police Lt. Jim McIntyre. "We had officers running around in boxer shorts without any real equipment, making repeated dives to save the victim making use of every last resource they had.
"Dave Stefanelli is a pretty strong swimmer and was first on the scene from the department," added McIntyre. "He did everything he possibly could and then some in that situation."
The Massachusetts Water Resource Authority Reservoir, commonly used for walking, jogging and biking, has long been off-limits for swimmers and has seen a step up in police patrols over the years - a development that still hasn't dissuaded young swimmers from eschewing the off-limits water hole.
The victim was reportedly with a group of other youngsters and allegedly hopped into the water in order to come to the aid of a friend having difficulty getting to shore.
A similar drowning occurred in the reservoir in 2002, and local police forces are routinely called to Spot Pond for similar calls.
According to MWRA officials, drinking water can also be compromised by illegal swimming in the reservoir.
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