NJ Teen Brothers Drown In School Swimming Pool: Officials

BAYONNE, NJ — Two teenage brothers drowned Wednesday night in a North Jersey school swimming pool, officials said.

In a Wednesday letter posted around 11 p.m., Bayonne Superintendent of Schools John J. Niesz notified the school community of the incident, which occurred at Lincoln Community School pool around 8:30 p.m.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and to all of our community," Niesz wrote. "We will have additional crisis counselors and guidance counselors tomorrow at all schools. Our pool at Lincoln School will be closed to all activities until further notice."

The identities of the deceased — a 19-year-old recent graduate of Bayonne High School and a 16-year-old junior at the school — were not immediately made available. A younger sibling was at the pool but wasn't involved in the drowning or in distress, said Bayonne Police Cpt. Eric R. Amato.

The circumstances that led to the drownings weren't immediately clear. Witnesses and the three lifeguards on duty told police that they saw both victims in distress at the deep end of the pool. The three lifeguards entered the water as the teens were unable to resurface, authorities said.

The lifeguards removed both victims from the pool and immediately began lifesaving measures as the 911 call was placed. The Bayonne Police Department received the call at 10:23 p.m. and got to the pool two minutes later, Amato said.

Officers, firefighters and other emergency personnel also assisted in CPR and other lifesaving measures when they arrived, according to the Bayonne Police Department. Officials took the victims to Bayonne Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead.

"The City of Bayonne is in mourning tonight, as we learn of the passing of two teenage brothers, who drowned this evening at our Lincoln Community School Pool," wrote Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis in a social media post. "I ask that we all respect the privacy of the family, as they deal with this unspeakable tragedy. We all pray for comfort for our neighbors."