A 17-year-old teen drowned late Friday afternoon while on a school trip to New Smyrna Beach.
J.J. Branchedor, the swimmer, was on a school trip with Forest Lake Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist High School in Apopka, that had gone to New Smyrna Beach.
According to reports, J.J. was swimming with three other teens near Bethune Beach, when they got caught up in a rip current. The three other swimmers were rescued by beach patrol officers.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the parents and family of J.J, the student body and faculty at each of these schools as well as our extended church family. We are all devastated right now, but we take courage in the hope and assurance of a soon coming Saviour,” said a statement issued by Arne Nielsen, Vice President, Florida Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists.
Nielsen also said that counselors are on hand to counsel students and will be available as needed.
J.J. was also a distance learning student at Walker Memorial Academy in Avon Park.
