Teen dies after jet ski accident on Lake Whitney, officials say

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A 15-year-old boy died after the jet ski he was riding crashed into a boat dock on Lake Whitney, officials said.

Orange County Fire Rescue officials said the teen was airlifted to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children around 3:09 p.m. Sunday. The boy, identified as Nicolas Lott, died at the hospital hours later.

Officials said the jet ski Lott was riding was owned by a friend of his family. It's unclear if he was steering the watercraft or if he was a passenger.

A 16-year-old boy who was on the jet ski with Lott moments before the crash said they were riding near the dock when the watercraft suddenly turned off and lost steering power, according to the incident report.

The teenager told deputies that he jumped off in time but Lott was still on board when the jet ski crashed into the dock. The boy pulled Lott out of the water and ran to his nearby home to tell his mother to call 911.

In a differing account, the boy told deputies that he and Lott were on separate jet skis, according to the report. Officials from the Orange County Sheriff's Office said they are investigating to determine how many jet skis were involved.

A phone message was sent out to parents and students at Windermere High School, where Lott was a ninth grade student. 

The school district had grief counselors available for students and staff on Monday to help them cope with the tragedy.