Overview

• A Lake Nona High School student drowned on May 14, 2025, while kayaking and paddleboarding with a group of six on Lake Whippoorwill.
• The Orange County Sheriff’s Office dive team recovered the teen’s body on May 15, a day after he went underwater and did not resurface.
• The Orlando Police Department has launched an investigation into the incident, though the circumstances of the drowning remain unclear.
• Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez confirmed the teen’s identity as a Lake Nona High student and expressed condolences to his family and friends.
• Grief counseling and support services have been made available to students and staff, as the tragedy marks the second student death at the school this year.