Two brothers drowned at a New Jersey school's indoor pool, school officials confirmed late Wednesday. One was 16 years old, the other 19. Their names have not been released.
The brothers, one a recent graduate of Bayonne High School and the younger currently enrolled as a junior there, were found unresponsive in the indoor pool at the Lincoln Community School on Avenue E in Bayonne, School Superintendent John Niesz said in a statement. The facility is also known as Public School No. 5.
The school pool is open at night for community use, according to a city official, who said a lifeguard was on duty at the time of the incident. Their 11-year-old sister saw it happen, the official said.
A Bayonne official said that the family is Chinese-American, and there were some communication issues during the emergency response.
First responders administered CPR but the brothers were pronounced dead at a hospital a short time after they were found.
"Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and to all of our community," Niesz said. He added that crisis and guidance counselors will be available at all Bayonne schools on Thursday. The pool will be closed until further notice as the investigation continues.
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Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis also expressed his condolences, saying in a Facebook post that the entire city was "mourning tonight."
