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Phila. teen drowns at Shore campground

A 14-year-old Philadelphia boy drowned Sunday night in pond at a Shore campground after his friends saw him flailing in water but thought he was "messing around," officials said,

A 14-year-old Philadelphia boy drowned Sunday night in pond at a Shore campground after his friends saw him flailing in water but thought he was "messing around," officials said,

New Jersey State Police divers early today recovered the body of John Toribio in 15 feet of water 35 feet from shore at Pine Haven Campground on Route 9 in Dennis Township, Cape May County.

He was pronounced dead at 1:42 a.m., police said

Sgt. Stephen Jones, a state police spokesman, said Toribio was swimming with a boy and a girl about 8:15 p.m. when the two friends saw Toribio splashing as if having difficulty.

They "thought he was just messing around," Jones said,

When they checked a short time later, they did not see him and were not sure he got out of the pond or went under, the spokesman said.

The friends searched the shore and when they did not find the teen, the boy told his mother that Toribio was missing and possibly drowned, Jones said. The woman called police about 10:30 p.m.

No charges have been filed, Jones said.