Harbormaster: teens shouldn’t have been swimming in Watuppa Pond

July 18, 2018 5:13 pm

By: Chloe Leshner

cleshner@abc6.com

@ChloeLeshner

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — New details about a drowning in Fall River Tuesday. The harbormaster says the teen and his friend should not have been there in the first place. Watuppa Pond is not meant for swimming and the conditions are so lousy, it’s even dangerous for boaters.

The harbormaster tells ABC 6 News this was preventable. The pond is not a public beach, there’s no lifeguard and its never been advertised as a place where swimming is allowed.

A few flowers left at the edge South Watuppa Pond, a solemn reminder of a young life lost.

"It’s heartbreaking," says Bob Smith, the Fall River Harbormaster.

Fourteen year old Eddiel Benitez drowned Tuesday afternoon after he and a 13 year old girl jumped off of the ledge into the pond.

"It’s just not the place to swim," says Smith.

The harbormaster patrolling the area of the tragedy as a visible warning to try and keep people away. The water is so murky you can barely see a few inches below the surface, something that really becomes an issue when a person dives in or when seconds matter for first responders trying to make a rescue.

"When someone goes in the water, the rescue teams, and stirs up the bottom, it becomes less than 0 visibility. It’s absolutely useless it just a matter of feeling around," says Smith.

If you look closely, there are huge rocks just below the water a reason even boats stay away.

"Most of the experienced fisherman who have been fishing in this pond for 30, 40 years stay away from this north end," says Smith.

Three people who saw what happened were able to save the 13 year old girl but had no luck finding Benitez. It wasn’t until 40 minutes later he was spotted in shallow water.

"It’s completely avoidable, not to place blame but it just reinforces the idea that this is not the place to swim," says Smith.

Benitez just finished up 8th grade at Talbot Middle School in Fall River. The school department putting out a statement reading in part, "our thoughts and prayers are to his parents, family, friends and all in the community who were blessed with knowing him."