GoFundMe Started for Family of Drowned New Milford Teen

NEW MILFORD, CT — A GoFundMe page has been established for the family of Joshua Dasilva, the teen who drowned in Candlewood Lake on Memorial Day.

State and local diving teams recovered Dasilva's body on Wednesday after searching the area near Dike Point across three days. The 17-year-old was lost while swimming with his friends on Monday afternoon.

Dasilva was a New Milford resident and a student at Henry Abbott Technical High School in Danbury.

"It is with great regret that we made this GoFundMe to help our Brazilian friend Eliane daSilva. She is going through one of the most difficult and tragic times for a mother: 'the loss of a child,' Demetrio Souza wrote on the page for the online fundraising campaign which he started on Wednesday. "In addition to Joshua, Eliane has two more children, and in this time of deep pain, we ask for the cooperation of everyone to help her financially."

The campaign has raised $21,343 from 522 donors as of 11:45 a.m. on Thursday.

"We ask that for everyone continue to pray for this family, and may God comfort then in this difficult time."

Donations may be made here.

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