STOUGHTON, Mass. — A summer afternoon on the water turned tragic Thursday when a 20-year-old Taunton man died after his canoe overturned on Ames Pond, authorities said.
The victim has been identified as Anderson Teixeira Goncalves, 20, of Taunton, the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office confirmed Friday.
Stoughton police and fire crews were called to Ames Pond off Highland Street around 2:30 p.m. Thursday for reports of a boater in distress. Officials said Goncalves had been canoeing with friends when the vessel tipped over and he went under the water. He did not resurface.
Multiple agencies responded, including the Massachusetts State Police Dive Team, which joined the search. Divers located Goncalves in the pond about 90 minutes later. He was pulled from the water and rushed by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The loss has left friends and family devastated. At just 20 years old, Goncalves’ life was cut far too short, leaving those who knew him grieving a young man with years ahead of him.
Stoughton police, the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office, and other agencies continue to investigate the incident. Officials said no foul play is suspected at this time.
Ames Pond is a popular spot for fishing and small boats, and Thursday’s warm weather had drawn residents to the water. The tragedy is a somber reminder of how quickly conditions can turn dangerous, even close to shore.
Funeral arrangements for Anderson Teixeira Goncalves have not yet been announced.
He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and the Taunton community.
20-Year-Old Taunton Man Anderson Teixeira Goncalves Dies After Canoe Capsizes on Stoughton Pond
