Riing Doar: Mount Carmel Catholic College mourns 15-year-old who drowned at popular swimming spot
A close-knit school community has been rocked by the death of one of its students who drowned at a southwest Sydney waterway.
NSW
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The school attended by a teen who tragically drowned at a rocky waterhole in Sydney’s southwest on Wednesday has been rocked by his death.
Riing Doar, 15, was swimming with friends at Keith Longhurst Reserve, at Kentlyn near Campbelltown, on Wednesday afternoon when he didn’t resurfaced.
Emergency services were called to the notoriously dangerous swimming spot on the Georges River, known to locals as ‘The Basin’ just after 2.30pm.
Mount Carmel Catholic College, where Riing was due to start Year 10 next week, issued the letter to parents and students on Thursday afternoon.
“It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death yesterday of one of our students,” the letter read.
“As you can imagine this is a very difficult time for his family and the whole Mount Carmel Catholic College community.”
The letter, which was signed by Principal Steve Lo Cascio, said a number of students, parents and staff were already aware of the tragic news.
The school is also offering support for anyone affected by the loss, saying “reactions and feelings are part of the grieving process”.
“If your son or daughter has been in any way impacted or feels uncomfortable about this matter please contact the college so that we can offer them support and counselling,” the letter said.
The college will also be opening the chapel at the school for Year 10 students to attend over the next week, while a counsellor is available for all students.
“While the school year will commence as normal from next week, we will aim to support students wherever possible,” the letter read.
“Once again we ask you to keep the Doar family in your prayers.”
Riing had been swimming with three friends when he failed to surface on Wednesday afternoon.
Police divers discovered his body about 5.10pm.
Campbelltown Mayor George Brticevic said the thoughts of the entire community were with Riing and his family.
“This is a sad reminder of the need to take extra care around natural waterways, which can be unpredictable,” he said.
Laura Bentham, the mother of one of the friends swimming at the waterhole at the same time, said she feared the worst when she heard the news.
“I messaged my son around 3pm when I heard the news – because he is also 15 – I just lost it,” she said.
“Thankfully he messaged me back saying he was okay but that’s all we heard.”
Ms Bentham told the Macarthur Chronicle Riing was a close friend of her son.
“Riing was a well-mannered young boy who was a close friend of our son and also a member of his basketball team,” she said.
A local resident said the swimming hole was notorious for accidents because a rocky ledge sits a metre below the water and can’t be seen from above.
“There have been five or six accidents at the waterhole in the past few years,” he said.
“I think the boy may have jumped and hit his head.”
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Originally published as Riing Doar: Mount Carmel Catholic College mourns 15-year-old who drowned at popular swimming spot
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