An Arizona high school student, just days away from graduating, drowned after attempting to swim across a lake. Jaysyn Robles, 18, a senior at Imagine Prep at Coolidge, died at Canyon Lake on Friday, according to AZ Family.
Incident Details
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office reported that their Lake Patrol unit responded to a drowning just before 1 p.m. Officials stated that Robles was trying to swim across the lake when he began struggling. Despite efforts by bystanders to rescue him, he sank beneath the water.
Lin Powell, a witness who called 911, told AZ Family he heard Robles screaming for his life. 'I told them at 12:45 p.m. when I called, get divers out here now,' Powell said. He watched Robles' friends and family desperately attempting a rescue. The teen's body was later recovered by a dive team.
Family and Friends in Mourning
Robles' family expressed their heartbreak in a GoFundMe statement, noting that 'he had his whole life ahead of him' and was 'deeply loved by his family, friends, classmates, and especially by his little sister and his mom, who are now facing an unimaginable loss.'
Peter Blind, a longtime friend, recalled Robles' big dreams: 'He was really excited to graduate; he was ready to start working. He had a whole lot of different ideas of what to do. He thought about piloting, going to Africa even.' Blind added that he will now have to walk to receive his diploma alone after spending half his life with Robles.
Robles' family described him as athletic, outgoing, and funny, with a smile that could light up any room. 'He played football, wrestling, and soccer, and was loved by everyone around him,' they said. 'He had such a big heart and the kind of presence that made people gravitate toward him.'
School Response
Imagine Prep at Coolidge issued a statement on Saturday expressing devastation over the loss and offering grief counselors and support staff for students on campus. Robles was less than two weeks away from his scheduled graduation on May 20th.
