POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A 17-year-old boy’s body was recovered after he fell off a Jet Ski on Lake Clinch on Sunday, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to the lake around 8:20 p.m. with the Frostproof Fire Department.
The sheriff’s office said 17-year-old Jose Torres was on the Jet Ski with a 15-year-old when Torres “made an abrupt turn” and caused him and the 15-year-old to be thrown into the water.
The 15-year-old, who was wearing a life jacket, was able to swim back to the Jet Ski but was unable to find Torres.
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The sheriff’s office’s Marine Unit and Underwater Search and Recovery Team used an underwater drone and found the teen just after midnight on Monday.
“It appears at this time that he drowned, although the M.E. will determine his exact cause of death,” the sheriff’s office said in a release.
Deputies said Torres was not wearing a life jacket.
“Our hearts hurt today for this loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with Jose’s family and loved ones. This is a tragic accident and a stark reminder that life jackets save lives. Please, when out on the water, wear a life jacket. It could save your life,” Sheriff Grady Judd said in a release.
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