Sandy MaloneWorcester, MA – A Worcester police officer drowned on Friday afternoon after he jumped into a pond to save three boys who were drowning.
Witnesses Megan Lamonda and Ayeh Tanteh said the incident began at about 1:35 p.m. on June 4 when they heard three kids screaming for help from the pond at Green Hill Park, Mass Live reported.
Tanteh called 911 and told dispatchers that that help was needed immediately.
Lamonda and Tanteh stayed at the pond and watched as police arrived on the scene, Mass Live reported.
“Two kids were in the water trying to hold onto each other in the water when I got here, screaming that they couldn’t swim and that there was somebody else under,” another witness told WBZ.
Lamonda and Tanteh said four officers quickly arrived on the scene and raced into the pond to rescue the boys.
A few minutes later, three of the officers emerged from the water with just two of the boys, Mass Live reported.
Witnesses said that it was 20 to 30 minutes before rescuers pulled the fourth Worcester police officer out of the pond and covered him with a blanket.
“He was a hero,” Lamonda told Mass Live.
Sources said the drowned officer was rushed to University of Massachusetts Memorial where he was pronounced dead.
Divers pulled the missing boy from the water at about 3:30 p.m., Mass Live reported.
A crowd remained by the pond as divers continued to search the water.
Officials have not yet released the identity of the hero who drowned.
On scene in Worcester, water incident at Green Hill Park, #wcvb pic.twitter.com/KV58ZPymDA
— Matthew Gregoire (@BreakngNewsPhtg) June 4, 2021
#BREAKING: Active search going on after a Worcester Police officer drowned trying to save a child in Green Hill Pond in Massachusetts
— Abhishek Saxena (@tagabhishek) June 4, 2021
Today, a police officer in Worcester died attempting to save a teen in distress. Two Braintree police officers were shot & a police canine was killed while responding to a domestic dispute. Police risk their lives for our safety everyday. Sending my full support & recovery to all
— DA Rachael Rollins (@DARollins) June 4, 2021
Today has been a very difficult day for MA law enforcement community. Our thoughts are with the families & colleagues of the Worcester Police Department Officer who died trying to save a person in distress in a pond, and 2 Braintree Police Department officers & K9 shot earlier pic.twitter.com/QvsN7yVusa
— STOW PUBLIC SAFETY (@stwpublicsafety) June 4, 2021
Brewster and Eascare Ambulance would like to send our condolences to the Worcester Police Department as well as the family of the officer who tragically drowned during a rescue attempt this afternoon. 💙🖤
— Brewster Ambulance (@BrewsterEMS) June 4, 2021
Heartbreaking news out of Worcester where we’re hearing a @WorcesterPD Officer, a 5-year veteran of the force, died earlier today trying to rescue 2 children who were drowning in Green Hill Pond. Please say a quick prayer for the officer and his family. pic.twitter.com/zxWcKEjDTj
— Boston Police Patrolmen's Association (BPPA) (@BostonPatrolmen) June 4, 2021
Please keep our brothers and sisters at Worcester PD and Braintree PD in your thoughts and prayers. Rough day for Massachusetts Police Officers. pic.twitter.com/2kY1K2ujQ2
— MCOPA (@MAPOLICECHIEFS) June 4, 2021
The Ludlow Police Department sends our deepest condolences to the @WorcesterPD as a Worcester Officer lost his life in making the heroic choice to save a drowning child, today.
— Ludlow PD, MA (@LudlowPolice_MA) June 4, 2021
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Holly Matkin
