A 12-year-old boy, identified as Noah Gomez, tragically drowned in Polk County's Lake Roy while on a family outing. According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the incident occurred when he went swimming with his father, two young brothers, and cousin in challenging conditions, ClickOrlando reported.
During a period when the winds were gusting at 30 mph, making the water very rough, the boys encountered difficulties while swimming. Sheriff Grady Judd disclosed that while the father could rescue his 9-year-old son and 10-year-old nephew, his 12-year-old son began drifting away despite efforts to swim back to the boat, as per ClickOrlando. He noted that the father managed to get Gomez on his back at one point but lost him as the boat drifted away from them into about 18 or 19 feet of water.
The search for Gomez was a coordinated effort involving the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Winter Haven Police Department, and Polk County Fire Rescue. After utilizing a marine unit equipped with underwater sonar, drones, and a helicopter, the boy's body was recovered within two hours, as covered by WESH.
