New Jersey drowning: 16- and 19-year-old brothers drown at school pool in Bayonne

BAYONNE, N.J. — Authorities are searching for answers after two brothers drowned in a northern New Jersey school swimming pool.

It happened Wednesday night at Lincoln Community School in Bayonne, Hudson County.

Police and paramedics arrived at the scene around 8:30 p.m.

Witnesses told police they saw the two teenage brothers in distress at the bottom of the pool.

According to the police, a lifeguard approached the bottom and observed the two victims unable to resurface.

He then entered the pool with two other lifeguards.

The three lifeguards pulled the teens out of the pool and immediately began administering CPR, police said.

Officers, firefighters and paramedics who responded assisted in the rescue measures.

Both victims were taken to Bayonne Medical Center where they were pronounced dead after police said further rescue efforts had failed.

The victims, aged 16 and 19, have not been identified.

In a statement, Bayonne Public Schools Superintendent John Niesz said one brother was a recent graduate and the other was a high school student.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and our entire community,” Niesz said. “We will have additional crisis counselors and guidance counselors (Thursday) in all schools.”

Officials said the pool is normally open at night for community use.

Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis posted the following statement on Twitter Wednesday evening:

“The city of Bayonne is in mourning tonight as we learn of the passing of two teenage brothers, who drowned tonight at our swimming pool at Lincoln Community School. I ask that we all respect the privacy of the family, as they face this unspeakable tragedy.”

Niesz said the pool will remain closed until further notice.