Contact: Beth Stone 508-584-8120
BROCKTON – The two males who drowned at a Brockton park last evening have been identified, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.
Last evening at approximately 7:30 p.m., Brockton Police received a 911 call for a medical emergency and possible drowning at Waldo Lake at D.W. Field Park. Upon arrival, responding officers determined that two children had gone under the water and could not be located. Brockton Police officers on scene entered the water and made rescue attempts but were unable to locate the children. Brockton Police contacted the Plymouth County Technical Rescue Team for assistance. At approximately 8:51 p.m., divers were able to locate the body of one victim. He was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He has been identified as 13 year-old Rafael Andrande, of Brockton.
At approximately 9:33 p.m., divers located the second male victim. He was also transported to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He has been identified as Tiago Depina, 12, of Brockton.
Brockton Police contacted the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit with the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and a death investigation commenced.
Preliminarily, it appears the two victims were skipping rocks in shallow water at Waldo Lake. In that section there is a steep drop off, and it appears one of the victims fell in while the other attempted to rescue him, and both went under the water. Several family members and witnesses in the area at the time made attempts at rescuing the boys but were unsuccessful.
The two victims were cousins. They did not know how to swim. No foul play is suspected in the incident.