A 17-year-old boy was found dead in Florida's Lake Clinch early Monday morning after a jet ski accident on Sunday evening. Jose Torres was riding a jet ski with a friend, 15-year-old Mekhi Guillaume, when he made a sharp turn, sending them both into the water. Torres’ passenger reportedly had a life vest on and made it safely back to shore. Sadly, Torres was not wearing a life vest and was missing for hours before his body was discovered early Monday morning.
Officials are urging others to wear a life jacket when they are out on the water, WESH reported. Statistics from the US Coast Guard show that of the 78% of people who have died in boating accidents, 84% were not wearing a life jacket, per Woody’s Watersports.
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The teen went out on the lake Sunday night and was found dead Monday morning.
Torres went out on Lake Clinch on a jet ski Sunday evening with a 15-year-old friend and passenger who was wearing a life vest. At some point, he made an abrupt turn, and they were both ejected from the jet ski into the lake around 8:30 p.m., according to WESH.
Guillaume was able to make it to shore but could not find Torres, who was not wearing a life vest, the news outlet reported. Authorities believe Torres drowned because his body was recovered in 20 feet of water. Authorities used underwater drones to recover his body, per WESH.
Torres had been attending Ridge Technical College in Polk County to become a welder and wanted to become a mixed martial arts fighter, his family shared, according to Fox 13.
Officials are warning people about the importance of wearing a life vest when around water.
Sheriff Grady Judd offered his condolences to the Torres family but also wanted to warn others to prevent another heartbreaking accident.
"Our hearts hurt today for this loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with Jose's family and loved ones. This is a tragic accident and a stark reminder that life jackets save lives," he said, per WESH. "Please, when out on the water, wear a life jacket. It could save your life.”
It is recommended that anyone swimming or doing recreational activities in or near open water wear a life jacket regardless of their physical fitness or swimming abilities.
Water-related fatalities tracked for the last 10 years at lakes and rivers showed that 86% were men 18 and older and 87% of them were not wearing a life jacket, according to statistics from the US Army Corps of Engineers, Water Safety USA noted.
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‘It doesn't feel real at all,’ one of Torres' relatives said.
Torres' sister, Valerie Rose Mejia Martinez, said learning about what happened did not feel real. "Hearing what happened yesterday hurt me so much because he's only 17," Martinez said, according to Fox 13. "I was like, ‘did this actually happen or am I just dreaming about all of this?’ It doesn't feel real that he's already gone so fast.”
Martinez shared that her brother was always willing to help anyone. “He's a really good person. He was always there for you with care, doing anything if you needed something," she said, per Fox 13.
The community is raising money to help the family with funeral costs.
Friends of the Torres family created a GoFundMe page to help with the funeral expenses and have raised more than $14,000 of the $20,000 goal thus far.
“Hi, my name is Kim Shorette and I’m raising funds to help the family with funeral expenses for their 17 yr old son Jose Torres who was in a jet ski accident in Frostproof," the page's creator wrote. "If you have it in your heart to help this hard working and very sweet family bury their son, please do so and all prayers are welcomed.”
A visitation has been scheduled for Torres on Friday night at Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales, Florida, according to Legacy. His funeral service has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at New Hope Church in Frostproof.
