A 12-year-old boy died after drowning in a lake in New Jersey on June 26, officials said. His identity was released on June 27 as Aaron Melzer, a seventh-grade student at Lazar Middle School in Montville.
Lovtar added that grief counselors will be available at the school on June 28 and July 1.
“The death of a student is a difficult event to process and will likely cause a high level of anxiety and distress for many students,” she wrote. “We encourage you to discuss their thoughts and feelings with them and assist them in working through their grief or concerns.”
“Please also consider monitoring your child’s communications and social media use to further assess their needs,” she added.
The office confirmed the boy’s death on June 27 and did not disclose his identity.
Divers from the Montville Fire Department came to rescue him from the water. He was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, the outlet reported.
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office announced that an investigation into his death remains ongoing, adding that the incident is not believed to be suspicious at this time. The investigation is to determine whether Lake Valhalla Club has adhered to all necessary protocols.
The Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit and the Montville Township Police are also joining to investigate the incident.
There are normally two lifeguards on duty at the lake, club members said, according to News 12.
“The safety of our members is our top priority, which is why we are working closely with investigators to understand what happened,” the club’s board of governors said in an email sent to the club’s members, sighted by Pix11.
“Nothing can change how badly and deeply we feel for the family and friends and we are incredibly sorry for their loss,” the email said.
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit encourages anyone with information about this incident to contact them at 973-285-6200 or the Montville Township Police Department at 973-257-4300.
Drowning is the second leading cause of preventable death for young children up to age 15, according to the National Safety Council.
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