12-year-old boy drowns in lake at high-end New Jersey country club

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Thursday, June 27, 2019
12-year-old boy drowns in lake at high-end country club
Jim Dolan has more on the 12-year-old boy who drowned in a New Jersey lake.

MONTVILLE, New Jersey (WABC) -- Officials say a 12-year-old boy has drowned in a lake at a high-end country club in New Jersey.

It happened around 3:20 p.m. Wednesday at Lake Valhalla Club, a private club on Vista Road in Montville.

Officials said the child was playing near a dock in water that is 10-to-12-feet deep, but they do not know how he drowned. Lifeguards were believed to be on duty at the time.

Emergency responders recovered the boy from the lake and transported him to a local hospital, where he died.

Police are investigating, but no foul play is suspected. The investigation will look into whether the club followed all the necessary rules.

"Be cognizant of where your kids are, especially when they're in water," Police Chief Andrew Caggiano said. "I'm sure you've all seen where there are drownings in far less water than here. As a parent of three, you always want to watch what your kids are doing."

In many local communities, children are celebrating the last day of school. Parents were seen leaving the club with their children in tears.

The name of the boy has not been released.

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