MCSO: Teenager died while tubing on the Salt River

PHOENIX (KSAZ) -- Officials with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said a 14-year-old student died while tubing on the Lower Salt River.

The incident, according to Sgt. Bryant Vanegas, happened on Wednesday, when the director of a Scottsdale-based school brought 10 students to the river for a tubing field trip. The group started floating down the river at Blue Point Bridge, and within a few minutes, the victim started having difficulty staying on his tube. The victim was the last one in the group, and the group was widely spread out because of the current.

The victim, according to officials, was seen walking in waist-deep water when he lost his tube. The victim's 15-year-old friend tried to help him after noticing he went below the surface. The friend entered the water and tried pushing the victim towards the large boulders on the shore, but was unsuccessful. The victim's body was found in 10 feet of water, about 25 yards downstream of where he was last seen.

MCSO officials said at this point, there are no indicators to suspect foul play, and an autopsy is pending.