A 13-year-old boy drowned in the lake at Oregon Ridge Friday, Baltimore County fire officials said.
Fire personnel were called to the lake in Cockeysville about 12:30 p.m. People saw Dennis Kemp, of Laurel, in distress and watched him go under, authorities said, and lifeguards stationed at the lake's beach went into the water to search for the youth.
Fire department water rescuers took over the search and recovered Dennis' body shortly after 3 p.m.
Dennis was on a day trip with Silver Spring-based Camp Sonshine, a camp he attended the past five years.
He was celebrating his 13th birthday, according to the camp.
"We've never had anything like this happen," said David Black, who founded the camp 33 years ago. "I told my wife I'm holding it together. I'm going to fall apart tonight, I think."
Officials said Dennis was swimming in a deep part of the lake restricted to only those who pass a swim test at the lake, which the boy had passed. He also passed a swim test at Camp Sonshine, News4's Shomari Stone reported.
The lake was closed for the weekend.
