Body of missing Westerly swimmer found by family friend

WESTERLY, R.I. (WLNE) — The body of a 15-year-old boy who went missing while swimming at a Westerly beach last week was found by a family friend.

Chief Paul Gingerella said police were called to the ocean side of Wawaloam Drive on Sunday evening for a report of a body in the water.

Officials recovered the body, identified as Jamier Martin Ico Gregorio of New London, Connecticut.

The body of a 15-year-old Connecticut boy was recovered days after he disappeared in the water at Dunes Park Beach in Westerly. (WLNE)

Gingerella said he was found by a friend of the family, who was in the Westerly area with family and friends for the past few days.

Gregorio disappeared while swimming at Dunes Park Beach on Thursday night.

He was swimming by the jetty after-hours with about a dozen family members.

The body of a 15-year-old Connecticut boy was recovered days after he disappeared in the water at Dunes Park Beach in Westerly. (WLNE)

Police believe he might have slipped on one of the rocks and went under the water or got pulled away by a strong wave. His exact cause of death is under investigation.

Officials searched for hours after he went missing Thursday night and resumed the search on Friday.

The search was later suspended when the Coast Guard stated, ““At this point, we don’t think the survivability is likely.”