WATERBURY, Conn. — Two people died after being pulled from the water at East Mountain reservoir in Waterbury Tuesday evening. Waterbury police say a 24-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy fell off of an air mattress they were floating on.
Waterbury Police and Fire, as well as Prospect Police and Fire and Connecticut State Police and the Region 5 Dive team searched the water for the victims, divers were able to pull them out at around 8:30 p.m. The reservoir, which is in Waterbury and Prospect, is not open to swimmers. There are no trespassing signs, but people who live nearby say they have heard of people going in the water.
"They do have barriers down there that you're not supposed to go down but I guess they went down," said Gloria Grenier of Waterbury. "It's sad, my heart goes out to the families because they're so young," she said.
People in the area say people often access the reservoir through a path at East Mountain Park.
"It's not an approved area for swimming but we need to remind ourselves wherever we're swimming, know your limitations and your abilities," said Lt. David Silverio of the Waterbury Police Dept.
With the high temperatures we have been experiencing, it's an important reminder as people look for ways to keep cool.
"I'm not surprised that people would seek relief that way trying to cool off," said Steve Parlato of Waterbury.
If you are going to go swimming, police want to remind you of the safe options available.
"Ideally we should swim in an area that's approved for swimming, in an area where there's a life guard, where there's other
people there," said Silverio. "In Waterbury for instance we have 3 public pools that are open, 14 splash pads, those are places where you can go and cool off, try to get out of the oppressive heat we're having this summer," he said.
The incident at East Mountain reservoir is still under investigation. Police say the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the victims' cause of death.