A young teenage died while swimming a Lake Gertrude at the For Abercrombie National Park on Tuesday.

Alaska State Troopers received a report from the Kodiak Police Department of a 911 call being made to report a possible drowning at Lake Gertrude, which is located within the Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park. Alaska State Troopers, Bayside Volunteer Fire Department and Kodiak Fire Rescue Department personnel immediately responded to the scene.

Further investigation into the incident revealed three teenagers, ages 13, 14 and 14 were spending the day swimming at the park. After two hours of swimming, the boys began pushing a log in the middle of the lake, after tiring, they began swimming for shore.

The victim, Rex Matautia, age 14, of Kodiak was seen struggling before disappearing under the water. His 13-year-old friend attempted to help him; but his friend began having difficulties himself and couldn’t hang on to the drowning victim, and Matautia drowned approximately 75 feet from shore in 12 feet of water.

Matautia was underwater for approximately 25 minutes before he was retrieved by rescue personnel. Matautia was transported by ambulance to the Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center and pronounced deceased.

Next of kin have been notified and the state medical examiner’s office has requested the body be transported to Anchorage for an autopsy.

During this investigation, it was determined the boys were not wearing floatation devices while they were swimming. No foul play is suspected.