Sebastian River High School is mourning the loss of a senior who drowned during a graduation celebration at Treasure Shores Park on Friday afternoon. The 18-year-old, a beloved SRHS band member, was set to graduate on May 15.
The community is invited to gather on Saturday from 5 to 6 p.m. in front of Sebastian River High School to honor the senior. The event will serve as a moment to reflect on the life of a young person who left a lasting impact on the Class of 2025.
According to the School District of Indian River County, the incident occurred around 1:45 p.m. at the beachside park, located in the 11300 block of A1A.
The student was caught in a rip current and pulled underwater for several minutes. Bystanders retrieved the teen from the water and administered CPR until emergency responders arrived. Despite extensive rescue efforts by law enforcement, fire rescue, and lifeguards, the student was pronounced deceased at Sebastian River Medical Center.
“One of our senior students was at the beach with a group of classmates after school when he was tragically swept under by a rip current for several minutes. Despite extended efforts to revive him, he sadly passed away at the hospital shortly after the incident,” a School District of Indian River County spokesperson said in a statement.
The student’s name has not been released, per school district policy.
In response to the tragedy, Sebastian River High School canceled its end-of-the-year band concert scheduled for Friday evening. The school also announced plans to provide on-campus support for students and staff in the coming days to help them cope with the loss.
