Nashua Teen Shea Patno Honored At Vigil After He Tragically Died

NASHUA, NH — Nearly 1,000 people came together at Shady Lane Park in Nashua to speak about their friend Shea Patno who tragically drowned Friday in Dunstable, MA

Friends took turns speaking at the field talking of Shea and how he impacted their lives. A common theme was how helpful, and caring he was as well as his goofy sense of humor.

As the group assembled for the vigil the clouds and rain moved in but those attending did not leave. As the vigil started the rain stopped, and the sky began to clear.

On Friday 15-year-old Shea Patno and friends were swimming in Dunstable, MA at Bass Pond which is located on conservation land. Dunstable Police said that Shea’s friends lost track of him, and he had gone underwater.

Dunstable Fire, and neighboring towns responded to the area to assist in the search. Departments launched boats, and Nashua Dive Team assisted in the search.

After nearly two hours Shea was located and brought to shore and then transported to a Nashua Hospital. Despite all the efforts of those on scene and at the hospital Shea could not be revived.

At the vigil the large crowd displayed signs on the fence of the ballfield, and held candles. Many of the teens at the vigil tried to comfort each other during very strong emotional moments.

The crowd took time for a 5 minute moment of silence, which was to reflect on Shea, and pray for each other.

As the vigil came to an end, a very large rainbow appeared over the crowd and the ballfield. Many of those attending said the sign of the rain stopping and the rainbow coming out was very representative of how Shea helped with things

On Monday Jahmal Mosley Superintendent of Nashua Schools issued a statement

Part of the statement said: "On behalf of all of us at the Nashua School District, I am writing to extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Shea Patno's family and friends, and his classmates and teachers at Nashua High School South. Shea was a member of the Class of 2023 at South, and a member of the football team."

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news