Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (SR)

Mumbai, Aug 4: Sixteen-year-old boy, Bryan Fernandes from Amboli drowned in a fish pond on Monday while on a church trip to Mahad in Raigad district of Maharashtra.

The fish pond was reportedly 50 ft deep because of the heavy rains in the district for the past one week. Bryan's post-mortem report cites the cause of death as asphyxia caused by drowning. The last rites are scheduled at St Blaise Church on Wednesday afternoon.

As reported in TOI, Fr Nigel Barrett, spokesman for the archdiocese of Mumbai, said, "There were 53 students and 10 adults of St Blaise Church who left for a confirmation retreat to Mahad at 6.00 am Monday. There is a fish pond on the farm where they were staying and three children may have slipped into it. They perhaps failed to assess the depth which police say had risen to 50 ft. Two of the boys were safely rescued but Bryan could not be saved. It is a tragic accident and the church is providing all manner of help to his family."