2-year-old wanders from family and drowns in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri cops say

A 2-year-old boy drowned while he was with his family at theLake of the Ozarks, Missouri officials say.

Missouri State Highway Patrol officers said the toddler wandered away from his family Sunday, Aug. 27, before being found in lake water.

He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:30 a.m., a little more than an hour after he was discovered, according to an incident report.

The boy, whom officials did not identify, is from Fairview Heights, Illinois.

He was the second person to die following an incident on the Lake of the Ozarks during the weekend. Nicolette McKenna, 44, died Saturday after a boat operator struck a breakwater, McClatchy News reported.

Sunday’s incident is one of five drownings reported by patrol officers this year on the Lake of the Ozarks. The victims range in age 2 to 56.

Drowning

At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children.

Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water.

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment.

“Don’t hesitate to get out of the water if something doesn’t feel right,” the group said on its website. “Whether it’s that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. It’s always a good thing to trust your instincts.”

This story was originally published August 28, 2023 at 4:56 AM with the headline "2-year-old wanders from family and drowns in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri cops say."