Teen dead after being pulled from Stephens Lake

Rescue workers prepare to leave the scene of a teen's death at Stephens Lake Park on Thursday.   ¦  CALIN ILEA

COLUMBIA — A 17-year-old is dead after fire crews pulled him from Stephens Lake on Thursday, a Columbia Police news release said.

The victim was identified as Columbia resident Jared Isaiah Healea. Witnesses told fire crews that several people were jumping into water that was about 15 feet deep from the rail surrounding the walkway in a prohibited area. Witnesses said Healea was swimming for two or three minutes before he began struggling and went under,  Columbia Fire Department Capt. Eric Hartman said. 

At 5:09 p.m, a witness called the Fire Department, and firefighters pulled Healea from about eight feet of water roughly 30 feet  from the shore at 5:26 p.m, Hartman said.

Medical crews took Healea to MU Health Care where he was later pronounced dead, the release said.

Columbia firefighters train annually for water rescues and crews were trained on  handling a "nearly identical" situation in July, a Fire Department news release said.