Gardai urge public not to share photos and videos after teenager dies in swimming tragedy

An investigation is underway after the body of a teenage boy who got into difficulties while swimming in County Meatch was recovered from the water.

The teenager, who has been swimming near the bridge at Laytown, was reported missing by a member of the public just before 6.15pm on Friday.

A major search and rescue operation was launched after the alarm was raised and emergency services including gardai, Meath Fire Service, the Dublin-based Rescue 116 Irish Coast Guard Rescue helicopter and Drogheda Coast Guard Unit were deployed.

"At approximately 6.15pm, emergency services received reports of a male in difficulty in the water and a search operation was launched. The body of a male was removed from the water by the coastguard later in the evening," said a garda spokesperson.

The teenager was pronounced deceased at the scene and his body was later taken to Navan Hospital where a post mortem will take place.

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Investigating gardai say they are aware of videos of the incident that are currently in circulation and it urging people not to share the content or upload it to social media.

"An Garda Síochána is requesting that this footage and imagery are not shared," said the spokesperson.