9-year-old boy who tragically died at New Bedford hospital remembered as kind, awarded “Best Student in the Entire School”

A local 9-year-old boy is being remembered after being rushed from Jones Beach in Dartmouth after experiencing medical distress this week.

According to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, at approximately 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dartmouth Police and EMS received a 911 call regarding a male juvenile who was in medical distress at Jones Beach which is located at 66 John Street in Dartmouth.

Upon arrival, police located the juvenile male, who was identified as being from Pawtucket, RI, on the beach with bystanders performing CPR. The boy was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office also responded to the scene.

Reports by those on scene indicated that the juvenile victim had been swimming and exited the water on his own. Once on the beach the boy started to experience medical distress.

According to an obituary, Laritson Duarte-Soares “was a very kind boy, wherever he went, even without knowing the person he would make friends instantly. This school year, he won the award of the “Best Student in the Entire School”. He is known for his kind spirit and touched many lives with his sense of humor and his smile. He enjoyed playing ball, riding his bike, dancing and playing video games with his favorite cousin Edvany. During every school vacation he liked to go to his aunts Anabelas (Nany) in New Bedford so he could be closer to her and his cousins, especially Edvany. Laritson brought so much love, laughter and light to anyone that had the joy of knowing him. He will be missed, loved and forever remembered for his loving soul.”

Staff members at Laritson’s school echoed those sentiments.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, from 9am-11am with a service at 11am in the Keefe Funeral Home, Five Higginson Ave. Lincoln, RI. Burial will follow in North Burial Ground Cemetery, Providence.

The matter is under investigation but not deemed suspicious at this time.