EAST PROVIDENCE — A 16-year-old boy suffered a spinal-cord injury after diving into a shallow pool yesterday, according to the police.

Lt. Stephen Enos said that the accident happened at about 4:20 p.m. at a residence on Roger Williams Avenue in Rumford where the boy had been a guest at a friend’s birthday party.

There were a number of teens and adults at the party, said Enos, who would not disclose the address of the residence or the name of the boy.

The boy apparently dove headfirst into an above-ground pool about 4 to 5 feet deep. When other guests realized that the boy was unresponsive at the bottom of the pool, one of teens at the party pulled him out.

A rescue crew found the boy conscious and lying on the patio, said Enos. He was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, where he was in serious condition as of 9:55 p.m., said Enos. The extent of his injuries is unclear.

The police are investigating the incident, but Enos yesterday said it was a “tragic accident.”