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HIGH POINT -- The city of High Point is reviewing an accident that left a teenager dead at one of its pools. Anthony Hayes, 17, died Saturday afternoon after what police are calling a possible drowning.

"Our hearts go out to the family. It's a tremendous loss," said Allen Oliver, the director of parks and recreation for the city of High Point. "I understand that he was a young man who had a lot of potential in his life and we're extremely sorry that this happened."

Oliver was told the teenager couldn't swim. It's just one reason city leaders and staff can't understand why Hayes was near 13 feet of water at the Washington Terrace pool.

"Our lifeguard that was on that area observed a person in the deep end under water, he went in, brought the victim out and then he and the pool manager started administering CPR," said Oliver.

Oliver said five lifeguards were on staff Saturday afternoon, three were on deck at the time of the accident but no one was able to save the teenager.

"From all indications of what we've been told, our lifeguards did exactly what they were supposed to do," Oliver said.

Cities like Winston-Salem have a policy where anyone under four feet tall have to pass a swimming test before swimming in the deep end but High Point city leaders say a policy like that wouldn't have mattered in the situation with Hayes.

"We have not really gotten to the point where we discuss where we go from here. We're just basically taking care of what's in front of us right now," said Oliver.

Now as the family grieves, city leaders want them to know that their thoughts and prayers are with them.

"Just as a parent, I'm hurting for them just as much as I would if it were my own child. I mean we never want to hear this happen whether it's in High Point or any other city in the city or across North Carolina or across the country," Oliver said.

Grief counselors are on hand to speak with lifeguards and staff about the accident.

There is no word on funeral arrangements.