PROVO, Utah — A 12-year-old boy from Arizona has died after he fell into a river in Utah and got swept multiple miles downstream, according to the Utah County Sheriff's Office.
UCSO told NBC affiliate KSL Utah County Search and Rescue was called due to a child falling into the Provo River near Bridal Veil Falls, which is just northwest of the city of Provo, at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday.
The boy was seen several times as he was pulled about four miles downstream before a swift-water rescue firefighter jumped into the river and pulled the boy out in Orem, Utah. In total, the boy was in the water for about 30 minutes.
The boy was taken to a nearby hospital, but he later died Saturday evening.
A search and rescue team member was also hospitalized with rope burns, according to UCSO.
UCSO later confirmed to KSL that the boy was from Arizona and said he was visiting Utah with his family.
UCSO is urging people to be careful and keep a close eye on children when they are around water this summer.
This is a developing story and more details will be added as they are released.
Drowning Prevention Tips:
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children between ages 1-4 aside from birth defects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Three children die every day as a result of drowning. Here are some tips from the CDC on how to protect children around water:
Learn life-saving skills.
Everyone should know the basics of swimming (floating, moving through the water) and CPR.
Fence it off.
Install a four–sided isolation fence, with self–closing and self–latching gates, around backyard swimming pools. This can help keep children away from the area when they aren’t supposed to be swimming. Pool fences should be completely separate the house and play area from the pool.
Life jackets are a must.
Make sure kids wear life jackets in and around natural bodies of water, such as lakes or the ocean, even if they know how to swim. Life jackets can be used in and around pools for weaker swimmers too.
Keep a close watch
When kids are in or near water (including bathtubs), closely supervise them at all times. Because drowning happens quickly and quietly, adults watching kids in or near water should avoid distracting activities like reading books, talking on the phone, or using alcohol and drugs.
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