Body of missing 21-year-old swimmer recovered from lake in Hopkinton

HOPKINTON, Mass. — The body of a missing 21-year-old man was recovered from a lake in Hopkinton on Saturday morning following an extensive search.

Authorities on Saturday identified the swimmer as Wilinson J. Orbequito of Hopkinton.

Emergency officials first responded to Sandy Beach at Lake Maspenock on Friday night around 8 p.m. for a report of a swimmer who never returned to shore, according to the Hopkinton Police Department.

Orbequito was in the water with a friend when they went beyond the safe-swimming zone set up at the beach and continued further into Lake Maspenock, police said. Upon arriving at the beach, the returning swimmer noticed his friend was missing and called 911.

Hopkinton firefighters and police officers began to search the beach line with the department’s sonar-equipped rescue boats. Teams searched the area until about midnight and ultimately paused the search until Saturday morning due to severe weather that was rolling through.

Divers, firefighters, and a K9 team located Orbequito’s body in 12 feet of water about 90 feet from the shore along the buoy line around 8:10 a.m. Saturday, according to police.

The Office of the Medical Examiner is working to determine a cause of death.

In the wake of the incident, the department asked swimmers to follow safety guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Always use the buddy system. Don’t swim alone.
• Be aware of local weather conditions, which can change quickly.
• Watch out for hidden hazards in the water, such as rocks and vegetation, that can limit visibility.

There were no additional details available.

An investigation is ongoing.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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