Durham teen drowns in Falls Lake trying to retrieve cell phone

RALEIGH (AP) — Authorities say a 16-year-old from Durham drowned today in Falls Lake after jumping into the water to retrieve his cell phone.

Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison says Eddie Allen was fishing with his mentor, Garrett McCollum, when his cell phone fell into the lake. McCollum warned Allen not to go in after it, but the teen jumped into the water.

Harrison says Allen immediately had trouble and McCollum jumped in after him. The sheriff says McCollum also had trouble in the water and a nearby fisherman came to McCollum's rescue. The fisherman wasn't able to reach Allen in time.

Harrison says his office is treating the case as an accidental drowning.

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