Georgetown Police Chief Donald C. Cudmore.
A 17-year-old Lawrence man drowned at Georgetown’s Pentucket Pond Saturday afternoon.
The body of Dewel Ortiz, 17, of Lawrence, was recovered after Georgetown Police Department’s Communications Center received a 911 call of a possible drowning at the pond near American Legion Park, according to Carrie Kimball-Monahan, spokesperson for Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett’s office.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family during this extremely difficult time,” Georgetown Police Chief Donald C. Cudmore said. “Thank you to the Georgetown Fire Department, the Beverly Fire Department’s Dive Team and the Massachusetts State Police for their assistance today.”
Georgetown Police and Fire Departments responded to the area after the 2:50 p.m. call, according to Cudmore. Firefighters entered the water to search for the victim and also requested a dive team. The Beverly Fire Department’s Dive Team arrived and entered the water at 3:36 p.m.
Beverly Firefighter Dean Julien, who is also a reserve officer for the Georgetown Police Department, recovered the victim at 3:41 p.m., about 30 feet from the shoreline in 15 feet of water. After assessing the victim, he was pronounced dead on scene. No lifeguard was on duty at the time of the incident.
The matter is under investigation by the Georgetown Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office.