Recent Central Bucks High School West grad killed in Poconos boating accident
Investigators say the teen and his friends took a rowboat to the lake, and it flipped in the water.
DOYLESTOWN, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- A Bucks County school district is mourning the loss of a recent graduate who died in a boating accident in the Poconos over the weekend.
Central Bucks School District says the victim is 18-year-old Dominic Testani, who graduated in January 2023 and was getting ready to ship off to basic training for the military.
His friends say a group of them had gone to the Poconos to celebrate Testani.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, which is investigating the accident, says it happened at 1:45 a.m. Saturday.
Three of the teens, including Testani, had taken a 10-foot rowboat out on the water and were not wearing life vests when the boat capsized.
"It's so senseless. It's just so senseless," said Robert Bannon, whose son was on the boat and was rescued.
He says the boys had been friends for their entire lives.
"Dominic Testani, he lived more life in his 18 years than most people did in a lifetime," said Bannon.
The fire department found Testani's body around 9 a.m. Saturday morning using a drone.
The death comes as a shock to the Central Bucks School District.
"Dominic was a January 2023 early graduate of Central Bucks High School West who was preparing to enter the military, and was a beloved friend, teammate, and classmate. We share in the loss with his family and stand ready to support everyone affected by this tragedy," the district said in a statement.
"You want your kids to live their life, but at the same time you don't want them to make stupid decisions," said Bannon.
As loved ones mourn his death, they're also celebrating a hero.
When the boat capsized, another teen in the group, Sean McFadden, heard his friends call for help from the shore.
"He heard screams and ran up along the coast of the boat and tried to find a boat. (He) couldn't find an oar, so he paddled with his hands," said Bannon.
McFadden was able to pull two of the teens, including Bannon's son, onboard and paddled them to safety.
"This kid did what no one else would do, and at the end of the day, he saved two lives and he deserves to be recognized for that," said Bannon.
Central Bucks School District says its Crisis Response Team met over the weekend following the accident. It is offering resources to address grief and has counselors available to help anyone in the school community.
