CONCORD, NH – A Bedford teen died Aug. 27 in a boating accident in North Pond in Stark.
At approximately 8 a.m. Saturday authorities from New Hampshire Fish and Game and New Hampshire Marine Patrol recovered the body of Syed Mansoor Bilal, 17, who drowned in North Pond in the town of Stark.
According to a report issued by Fish & Game, just before 1 a.m. Bilal, along with three other young men, got into a canoe and paddled out into the pond in front of the vacation residence where they were staying. Shortly after leaving shore the canoe overturned, sending all of the occupants into the water. The other three boaters were able to make it to shore.
A call for help via 911 was made immediately following the capsize. Personnel from New Hampshire Fish and Game, NH Marine Patrol, NH State Police, Stark Fire Department, Groveton Fire Department and Shelburne Fire Department responded to the scene. Crews worked steadily through the night before recovering the teenager’s body hours later.
Bilal recently moved to New Hampshire from Pinckneyville, IL., with his family, and was enrolled to be a senior at Bedford High School.
Circumstances surrounding this incident currently remain under investigation by multiple agencies, but alcohol and drugs appear to be contributing factors in this tragedy.
