A 10-year-old boy of the Mennonite Community of Shipyard in the Orange Walk District drowned in a pond in which he and others were swimming at about 2:00 yesterday afternoon, Sunday.

Police said that they went to Shipyard and saw the body of Johan Schmitt, who appeared dead; he was taken to the Orange Walk Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Schmitt’s friends told police that they were swimming in the pond when they saw Schmitt go under, and did not resurface. They immediately went for help, and people from the village began a search for him.

At about 3:00 yesterday evening, his body was found in the pond, with no signs of violence.

Police have declared the matter death by drowning.