Presumed Drowning of Minor Being Investigated

08:15PM / Wednesday, July 17, 2024Print Story | Email Story

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Authorities are investigating the presumed drowning of a 14-year-old at Benedict Pond on Wednesday afternoon.

According to Great Barrington Police, first responders received a 911 call shortly before 2 p.m. of a teen who was unaccounted for in the pond's beach area.

The youth was found unresponsive in the water prior to emergency personnel arriving. Several people assisted in removing the victim from the water and CPR was immediately started. The victim was transported to Fairview Hospital, but lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful.

The Berkshire District Attorney's Office is actively investigating the death of the minor. The victim's name has not been released and the office said more information would be provided in coming days pending the preliminary investigation results.

The State Police Detective Unit assigned to the DA's Office is overseeing the investigation.

Responders included local Police and Fire Departments, as well as Monterey Police and Fire, New Marlborough Ambulance and Southern Berkshire Ambulance Squad.

Benedict Pond is located within Beartown State Forest with access in Great Barrington and Monterey.

Tags: drowning,

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Letter: Southern Berkshire Ambulance Expresses Gratitude for Support

Letter to the Editor07:00PM / Saturday, August 08, 2026

To the Editor:

Over the next nine months, the Southern Berkshire Ambulance Squad (SBAS) will take delivery of two new ambulances, at a cost of roughly $1 million, to replace two vehicles that are very much on their last wheels. Lacking that $1 million, SBAS had to put out an emergency call of its own. I write to share the wonderful news that Berkshire Preservation Inc. (BPI) more than answered our call.

BPI's board, which includes Carole Owens, Louis Schroeter, Wende and David Carver, Nelson Furlano, and Todd Ehrlich worked tirelessly to organize a benefit concert at the Colonial Theatre that netted $98,877 for SBAS. We saw firsthand how hard they worked to bring it off, and we could not be more grateful to be the beneficiaries of their efforts and generosity.

SBAS answers your emergency calls 24/7/365. It means a great deal to us that when we were the ones in need, BPI answered ours. If you would like to learn more about BPI, and you should, please go to preservationinc.org.

With deep gratitude,

Ken Schumacher
Great Barrington, Mass.

Ken Schumacher is president of the board of directors
of the Southern Ambulance Squad

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