A 17-year-old has died after jumping over a Pennsylvania bridge with his friends. As reported by People, the teen jumped into the Jordan Creek in Allentown, Lehigh County.
According to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office & Forensic Center, the group of teens jumped into the creek. However, the teen who tragically died didn't end up resurfacing from the water.
The teen was identified in a later press
According to the first press release from the office, first responders were called to the scene at around 11:00 am on Thursday, May 28. According to WFMZ, search crews in boats searched for Simmons before finding his body.
The coroner's office was called to the scene at about 1:00 pm, before the teen was pronounced dead at around 2:21 pm.
A friend of Simmons said that she got a text message about how he never came back up after jumping. Joleeanis Olavarria said, "They went out to go to the river and I get a text message that something happened to one of my friends and that he jumped... He didn't know how to swim."
The friends who jumped into the creek with Simmons were apparently seen "shaken up" and "crying", according to a local resident.
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Authorities Are Warning People About How Swimming Can Be Dangerous
The Lehigh County Coroner, Daniel Buglio, warned people about the dangers of swimming in the press release.
"As we head into the warmer months and more people begin spending time around pools, lakes, rivers, creeks and streams, I want to remind everyone to be careful and use caution around the water," he wrote.
"Every year, we respond to incidents that serve as a reminder of how quickly a day of recreation can turn into a tragedy. Natural waterways can be unpredictable, with changing currents, varying depths, hidden hazards, and cold water temperatures."
Buglio finished the statement by asking people to "keep a close eye on one another". He added to "never underestimate" the dangers of water.
This is a truly shocking accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with Simmons' family and friends.
