Officials stress water safety in wake of teens drowning [Video]

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – It’s a tragedy that has many in the Lincoln community reeling. A 16-year-old Lincoln Public Schools student is dead after from an accidental drowning in Holmes Lake on Thursday.

It was a nightmarish scene of emergency workers at Holmes Lake. First, the frantic search to rescue the teen. Then, a heartbreaking recovery of the boy’s body.

“When it turns into a locate, it’s always hard because our jobs is to save lives, not do that,” Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said.

10/11 NOW reached out to Lincoln Fire and Rescue on Friday to talk to the team that responded to the call but was told they’re all shaken up and that emotions are just too raw rights now. It’s a tragedy that hits close to home.

“Especially with the children, we all have our kids, and that makes it even doubly hard on those kind …