The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary confirmed the death for The Telegram late Tuesday afternoon.
The incident occurred about 3:30 p.m. when the boy was swimming at the popular gathering place when he ran into trouble in the water known as Jim Dunn’s Hole.
It is located off of Windgap Road in Flatrock, near an entrance to the East Coast Trail.
Members of the Torbay Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene along with rescue crews from the St. John’s Regional Fire Department, including its Cold Water Rescue team.
It’s not known how long the boy was in the water before he was pulled out by first responders, who immediately began trying to resuscitate him.
An onlooker said firefighters performed CPR on the boy as he was brought up from the swimming hole to an ambulance.
The boy was rushed to the Health Sciences Centre, but was later pronounced dead.
RNC officers were on the scene as well, taking statements from several teenagers and other witnesses.
Torbay Fire Chief Mike McGrath declined comment when approached by the media at the scene.
Earlier story:
Emergency personnel were called to the popular swimming hole off Windgap Road in Flatrock this afternoon following a report of a possible drowning.
Shortly after 3:30 p.m. a 16-year-old youth was pulled from the water and was worked on by rescue personnel before being rushed to hospital by Eastern Health paramedics in an ambulance. Family members of the boy were placed in an RNC vehicle to follow the ambulance to the hospital.
Sadly, the boy was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
The RNC were at the scene taking statements from young friends of the boy and other witnesses in the area as the investigation into the incident continues.
