A Quebec teenager tragically died in Florida while swimming in the Gulf of Mexico with his high school swim team during spring break, authorities have confirmed. The sheriff’s office in Pinellas County, located just outside Tampa, stated that 17-year-old William Zhang was discovered by an underwater search and recovery team late on Mar. 6 after he failed to return to shore following morning swimming drills.
Collège Notre-Dame, the private high school in Montreal where Zhang was a student, expressed deep sorrow over his passing. The school mentioned that resources for support have been made available to the entire college community and asked for privacy for Zhang’s family during this trying time. The school’s swimmers and triathletes, along with their coaches, have returned to Quebec, but details about the swim trip were not disclosed.
Authorities were alerted on Mar. 6 after Zhang did not come back to shore as expected. A widespread search operation involving various agencies was launched, eventually leading to the discovery of Zhang’s body at 5:23 p.m., more than eight hours after he was reported missing. The swim coaches confirmed that they had checked the water for potential hazards before the drills began. The investigation into Zhang’s death is ongoing, though no foul play is suspected.
Following the tragic incident, Quebec’s swimming federation, the Fédération de natation du Québec, shared a message on social media conveying their condolences over Zhang’s passing. While Zhang was not directly affiliated with the federation, they expressed solidarity with the aquatic community in mourning the loss. The federation also emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety when training in unfamiliar waters and stated that they were collaborating with local authorities to understand the circumstances surrounding Zhang’s death.