UPDATED FEB. 21 4:20 p.m.: The Medical Examiner's Office has ruled the cause of death as an accidental fresh water drowning.
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A middle school student in Caswell County, North Carolina, died after jumping into a reservoir.
13-year-old Damien Farmer was pronounced dead early Wednesday morning. He jumped into water behind the Yanceyville Water Plant, off the Badgett Sisters Parkway, around 5:15 p.m Tuesday night.
Because of the water temperature and depth, sheriff's deputies were unable to immediately locate the boy. Therefore, they called in the Danville Rescue Dive Team.
Within minutes, the Danville Rescue Dive Team found the boy in about 24 feet of water.
Farmer was taken to the Danville Regional Medical Center where he died early Wednesday morning.
Here is the news release from the Caswell County Sheriff's Office:
On February 14, 2012 at 5:15 p.m. the Caswell County 911 Center received a call that a teenage child had jumped into a reservoir located behind the Yanceyville Water Plant off of the Badgett Sisters Parkway. Upon arrival of the Caswell County Sheriff's Office Deputies entered the water attempting to locate the teenager, due to the water temperature and depth the Deputies were unsuccessful in locating the teen. Upon arrival of the Yanceyville Fire Department and Caswell E.M.S. the search continued to locate the teen while Danville Rescue Dive Team was responding. Upon their arrival The Dive team entered the water where the teen was last seen and within minutes the teen was located in approximately twenty-four foot of water.
The teen that was identified as Damien Farmer a 13-year-old Dillard Middle School Student who was transported by Caswell County E.M.S to Danville Regional Medical Center. Farmer was pronounced deceased at 1:30 a.m. on February 15, 2012, he was transported to Roanoke, V.A. for an Autopsy which is standard operating procedure. No foul play is suspected at this time although the case remains under investigation pending autopsy results.
Dillard Middle School has set up additional counseling staff to assist with the loss of a fellow student.
The Caswell County Sheriff's Office would like to thank Danville Life Saving Crew and Danville Rescue Dive Team for assistance in this matter; we also send our condolence to the family of Damien Farmer.
