FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Learned Pond is a popular spot for families and kids. Some adults will walk about 100 feet into the woods to jump off the rope swing, but many people went by Thursday not realizing it had been removed.
Flowers are now floating in the pond where the body of a 16-year-old was found. The water had been a popular hangout
“There would be like 30 or 40 people here just waiting to jump on the rope,” said Gustavo Paschoal, a regular visitor. “The first time I did it, it was because my friends begged me to do it, but I stopped because I don’t know how to swim.”
Police said the teenager was jumping off a rope swing into the pond Wednesday night, but couldn’t swim. Witnesses said officers who were already nearby dove in the water three different times to find him. They began CPR, but it was too late. Doctors pronounced him dead at the hospital. The death is now raising questions about the rope swing.
>>>MORE: Body of 16-year-old boy pulled from Framingham pond
“I know it was not town sanctioned,” said Framingham resident Kevin Convery. “The town beach is down there. People cut through the woods and somebody put the rope up. You can’t do much about that.”
The city removed it to make sure no one else can jump in. Witnesses said you can stand up in the first few feet of water but then there is a major drop off, and they say that 16-year-old swing a little too far.
“When I went I was able to touch the floor and I was able to come back, thank God, but when he did he probably went too far away,” Paschoal said. “It’s kind of sad, but they cut it off for a good reason. It’s really sad because he was just here to have fun like all the teenagers do. Things happen every day but he wouldn’t imagine that would happen to him that day.”
It’s not just teenagers, Boston 25 spoke with adults who say they often jump in the water as well. They say the rope swing has been there for years. Police haven’t yet released the identity of the victim. Sources said he just moved to the area a couple of months ago and it took a few extra steps for police to notify the family.
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