16-year-old boy dies after being rescued from the water at Toronto’s Woodbine Beach

Officials say a 16-year-old boy has died and at least two others have been injured after being rescued from the water at Woodbine Beach.

Police said emergency crews were called to Woodbine Beach, near Lake Shore Boulevard East and Woodbine Avenue, before 2:40 p.m. on Friday.

Const. David Hopkinson told Global News a woman and her son were swimming in Lake Ontario when they encountered difficulty. Bystanders jumped in the water to try to help them. While the mother and son were OK, two of the bystanders were injured.

A Toronto Paramedics spokesperson said the boy sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital.

In an update released Friday evening, police said the boy succumbed to his injuries. Paramedics also took a 15-year-old girl to hospital in serious, but non-life-threatening condition. A third person was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and paramedics assessed a fourth person. Toronto Fire Services said a fifth person was also pulled from the water.

A police spokesperson said officers initially received reports two people were pulled from the water and that another person is still missing. However, at around 4 p.m. police said everyone was accounted for.

Firefighters, paramedics, police, coast guard and lifeguard personnel were all involved in the operation.

Meanwhile, police warned the public of a strong undertow in the area. Hopkinson encouraged residents to stay away from where the incident happened.

“If they go to the beach in that area — the west end of the beach — we would like people, unless they’re strong swimmers, to stay out,” he said.