16-year-old drowns while fishing, Florida police say. ‘Left doing what he loves’

A 16-year-old passionate about fishing and biking drowned while fishing with friends under a bridge, Florida authorities said.

On July 2, Ja’Quon Madaris and two other juveniles tried to cross the water under a bridge by walking on the outskirts of a patch of mangroves, according to the Port St. Lucie Police Department.

The shallow water suddenly got deep, and Madaris, who didn’t know how to swim, disappeared beneath the surface, police said.

Air and water rescue teams responded to the area to search for the missing teen, but police reported they found him dead under the bridge.

Madaris had recently graduated high school and was working on growing his fishing and biking YouTube channel. He made videos with other anglers catching grouper, sharks and other specimens.

Madaris, who was also part of his local riding community, had plans to film an upcoming ride for the group, the Facebook group’s moderator Arthur Rumph said.

“What a sad situation,” Rumph wrote in a post offering condolences to the family. “He left doing what he loves to do.”

From a young age, Madaris hustled to apply for work and took an interest in bikes, his family told TCPalm.

“He would just buy five bikes in a row and take the parts and just put them together just to do it because he loved it,” his older sister, Shania Madaris, told the outlet. “He loved to ride bikes.”

His mother, Lela Madaris, told TCPalm her son was funny and “kids around a lot.”

“He wants to tinker with everything,” she said, adding he’s “tried his hands at everything.”

Madaris showed his drive in several different areas, according to Paige Latham, the director of St. Lucie Acceleration Academies. He was a “diligent” student who was able to graduate two years early, and he was also dedicated to his family, raising money for his niece’s leukemia treatment, Latham told McClatchy News over the phone.

“He was always willing to help out whenever it was necessary. He sought out opportunities to lend a hand to everybody on the site,” Latham said. “He was a great friend to a lot of our students, and he will be sorely missed.”

After he graduated, Madaris promoted his YouTube channel on social media and attempted to reach local business owners for work opportunities.

“I’m 16 and I’m a high school graduate,” he said in a June 2 Facebook post. “I’m willing to learn new things and I’m not afraid of the heat or to get dirty.”

Port St. Lucie Police Department’s Assistant Chief Leo Niemczyk told WPEC that anyone who is not a strong swimmer should bring a life vest.

“One of the buddies attempted to rescue him, but just couldn’t do it,” Niemczyk told the outlet. “It was just really sad to watch and he’s real traumatized right now.”

Port St. Lucie is on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, about a 50-mile drive north from West Palm Beach.

Drowning

At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children.

Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water.

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment.

“Don’t hesitate to get out of the water if something doesn’t feel right,” the group said on its website. “Whether it’s that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. It’s always a good thing to trust your instincts.”

This story was originally published July 3, 2024 at 3:17 PM with the headline "16-year-old drowns while fishing, Florida police say. ‘Left doing what he loves’."