Local News Coverage of the Dive Team

Associated Press
August 11, 2001

WINDHAM Conn. (AP) - A 14-year-old boy drowned Saturday while swimming with friends in the Willimantic River, police said.

Witnesses said Francisco Madera, who was not a good swimmer, and the other youths were swimming in a part of the river that runs near Recreation Park in the Willimantic section, off Main Street. Police said that part of the river is not a known swimming hole and is fenced off along the banks.

Madera's friends called authorities at about 2 p.m. after their efforts to rescue him were unsuccessful, police said.

Firefighters responded to the scene within minutes. They pulled the boy from a pool 12 feet to 15 deep and tried to revive him. He was transported to Windham Community Memorial Hospital, where doctors tried to revive him for a half-hour before pronouncing him dead, authorities said.

Firefighters said the boy was under the water for nearly 30 minutes.

The drowning was the second in Windham this year. In June, 18-year-old Luis Mendez drowned in the Natchaug River. Authorities said he also did not know how to swim.

AP-ES-08-11-01 2256EDT

The Hartford Courant
August 13, 2001

WINDHAM - A 14-year-old boy who drowned Saturday while swimming with friends in the Willimantic River has been identified as Francisco Madera of 327 E. Jeffrey Road in the Windham Heights area.

The fire department said he was swept by current into deep water.

Witnesses said the boy, who was not a good swimmer, and the other youths were in a part of the river that runs near Recreation Park in the Willimantic section, off Main Street. Police said that part of the river is not a known swimming hole and is fenced off along the banks.

Madera's friends called authorities about 2 p.m. after failing in their efforts to rescue him, police said.

Firefighters arrived at the scene within minutes. They pulled the boy from a pool 12 feet to 15 deep and tried to revive him. He was taken to Windham Community Memorial Hospital, where doctors tried to revive him for a half-hour before pronouncing him dead, authorities said.

Firefighters said the boy was under the water for nearly 30 minutes.

The drowning was the second in Windham this year. In June, 18-year-old Luis Mendez drowned in the Natchaug River. Authorities said he did not know how to swim.