15-year-old boy rescued from drowning by Fall River man has died

A boy that was rescued from drowning by a Fall River man on Sunday has died.

The 15-year-old boy who was pulled from the water shortly after 6:00 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Woods State Park has died, according to a GoFundMe page set up by friends of his family.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is confirming that the victim is Melecio DeLeon Regil of Providence.

Family and friends described Melecio as a bright light in the Met High School community.

“His kindness and genuine care for others was an inspiration to all who knew him. Over everything else, his immense love and care for his family was his guide. There are no words to truly honor who this young man was.”

The GoFundMe fundraiser had reached nearly $4,500 as of this writing.

According to WJAR 10, Andre Moraes quickly ran into the water and swam out to meet Melecio after the boy’s mother went to him panicked that her son was drowning. Moraes brought him to shore with the help of bystanders. Melecio was transported to Hasbro Children’s Hospital where he later died.

DEM’s Division of Law Enforcement is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.