A teenage boy from Quebec died during swim training in the Gulf of Mexico earlier this week, according to police in Florida.
The sheriff’s office in Pinellas County, near Tampa, stated that 17-year-old William Zhang was attending a camp with his swim team.
Zhang and his fellow swimmers were doing exercises on Wednesday morning when authorities were called to the scene around 9 a.m.
The sheriff’s office mentioned in a statement that Zhang didn't come back to shore after the drills.
Swim coaches informed investigators that they checked for riptides or hazards before the swimmers went into the water, as per the police.
The sheriff’s office reported that a comprehensive search was launched involving the Indian Shores Police Department, the Pinellas Suncoast Fire Rescue, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The United States Coast Guard also participated in the operation.
Zhang’s body was discovered several hours later at approximately 5:23 p.m.
An inquiry is ongoing, but the police stated that Zhang’s death doesn't seem to be suspicious.
— with files from The Canadian Press