Apparent Drowning Continues Tragic Trend

It appears the fourth child of 2012 has drowned in Hennepin County waters.

Hennepin County Sheriff deputies responded to a farm on County Road 10 in Corcoran at approximately 4:30 p.m. Wednesday after receiving reports that an 11-year-old was pulled from a pond and was unresponsive.

Two young brothers from St. Paul were visiting the farm with their family when one brother alerted an adult that his brother was in the pond and needed help.  

A man pulled an 11-year-old boy from the pond.  

First responders arrived at the scene within minutes and provided CPR and the child was transported to North Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.  

If the death is ruled a drowning, it would be the fourth child to have drowned in Hennepin County this year and the seventh drowning victim overall.

A 20-year-old Minnetonka man last month while swimming with friends near Big Island; a in Lake Independence in June.

A total of 14 people have "nearly drowned," according to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.

Record summer temperatures mean that many more people have been enjoying water-related recreation such as boating and swimming, and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is urging all residents to put safety measures into place during water recreation.

UPDATE:

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner has identified the victim as Chuefu Yang of St. Paul. The boy was pronounced dead in the emergency room of North Memorial Medical Center. Cause of death has been ruled accidental drowning.

Below are some safety tips from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office:

Watch your kids

• Parents and caregivers must maintain visual contact when children are in—or near—the water. In 70 percent of cases where young children drowned, one or both parents were nearby. Being nearby isn’t enough. Parents must focus on kids and avoid distractions such as cell phones or talking with other adults.
• Parents must watch their children even when there are lifeguards on duty. Do not rely on older siblings to watch young children.
• Watch your children in pools and hot tubs. In Hennepin County in recent years, most drownings and near-drownings have taken place in swimming pools and hot tubs.

Wear a life jacket

• Weak swimmers or non-swimmers may wear life jackets while swimming – in lakes, in swimming pools, or any body of water.  Adult supervision is still needed. 
• Use U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets. Do not rely on water wings or other inflatable devices. 

Learn to swim and learn about water safety

• Teach your kids to swim. Adults must know how to swim too. 
• Keep safety equipment near pools, such as a shepherd’s hook. If attempting a rescue, do not enter the water. Hand something to the struggling person or pull them to safety with the hook—so that the rescue doesn’t endanger others. 
• Use safety precautions with backyard kiddie pools. (One child drowns every five days in portable pools.)
• Learn CPR and learn more about water safety.