After a multi-agency search, deputies recovered the body of a child who disappeared while swimming during a family boat day on a Polk County lake.
It happened Thursday afternoon at Lake Roy in Winter Haven.
According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, 12-year-old NG went out to the lake to fish and swim with his father, 9-year-old brother and 10-year-old cousin.
“This week is Spring Break in Polk County, so what do good dads do? They spend time with their children. And that’s what dad was doing this afternoon,” J said.
When the kids jumped in the water, they immediately began struggling. As the sheriff explained, wind gusts were up to 30 miles per hour on Thursday, causing rough conditions on the lake.
J said the father was able to grab the 9-year-old and 10-year-old, but N kept drifting out further.
“So he jumped into the water, put N on his back and was doing his best to swim back to the boat that was drifting away from him,” the sheriff said. “N slipped off of his dad’s back into the water — into about 18 or 19 feet of water.”
While this was happening, one of the boys on the boat called 911, promoting a response from Polk County and Winter Haven police and fire crews.
Crews were using boats, drones, underwater sonar devices and a helicopter in an effort to locate the boy. In an update just before 4:45 p.m., deputies said his body was recovered.
“N unfortunately succumbed to drowning,” J said.
According to the sheriff, the boy’s body was located at the bottom of the lake in less than two hours.
“Our hearts break because dad was doing what dads should do,” J said. “It’s just a sad situation.”
The boys, who were all described as strong swimmers, were not wearing life jackets, the sheriff added.
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Source: wtsp
