Searchers are looking for a man who jumped off a boat and then disappeared under the water, an official said.
View full sizeA diver comes out of Middle Pond of Congamond Lakes in Southwick as rescue personnel continue search and rescue operations for a 19-year-man who was last seen in the water after jumping from a boat on Monday.This story was updated at 7:45 p.m. Monday
SOUTHWICK – Underwater divers are searching Middle Pond of Congamond Lakes for a 19-year-old man who was last seen in the water after jumping from a boat, officials said.
The man, whose name was being withheld, was on a pontoon boat with a group of friends. The friends told police the man jumped into the water. He resurfaced once, went under again and never resurfaced, said Lt. David A. Ricardi of the Southwick Police Department.
Police were called at about 4:30 p.m.
Divers with Southwick police and fire are in the water looking for the man. Ricardi said the search is still considered a rescue operation.
The search is expected to continue until the find him or until dark, at which point it will be suspended and resume Tuesday, Ricardi said.
This is the second such underwater search of Middle Pond for a missing swimmer in less than a month.
On June 18, 22-year-old Larry Cauley of Suffield either jumped or fell from a pontoon boat and never resurfaced. His body was recovered 36 hours later.
Prior to that, the last reported drowning in Congamond was in 2000.