A teen visiting Barrie from outside the country drowned at Centennial Beach Friday evening, according to police and fire officials.
Barrie Police, Barrie Fire and Emergency Service and Simcoe County Paramedics were called to a suspected drowning at the beach just after 6 p.m.
Barrie Fire's Public Fire and Life Safety Officer Samantha Hoffmann says a male was pulled from the water without vital signs almost an hour after emergency crews arrived.
Barrie Police Const. Sarah Bamford confirms the drowning victim is a 16-year-old boy visiting from another country.
A total of five fire trucks attended the call along with Simcoe County Paramedics and Barrie Police.
"We participated in a human chain and fire department staff and police swam outside the buoys," said Hoffmann.
"A male was located in approximately 25 to 30 feet of water. He was deceased."
It was an officer with the Barrie Police Marine Unit that found the teen outside the designated swimming area below the water line, according to a news release from Barrie Police.
The victim was rushed to Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre and later pronounced dead.
Hoffmann said the call came in around 6:15 p.m. and the teen was located at 7:15 p.m.
Barrie Police tweeted that they responded to a drowning at Centennial Beach and were urging people to avoid the area.
Firefighters, paramedics and police formed a human chain with life-guards and civilians in a desperate search.
"They link arms and they walk all the way out searching for the missing person," said Hoffmann.
"Even if you haven't been part of a human chain but you've been on a beach where someone is missing and you observe one, it's a pretty solemn moment."
