Young Child Died After Falling Through Ice on Minnesota Lake

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McGrath, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Aitkin County Sheriff's Office today released information about a tragic incident that occurred last weekend on a small northeastern Minnesota lake.

A news release says the Sheriff's Office received a call shortly after 1:30 Sunday afternoon that a six-year-old boy had fallen through thin ice. Authorities were informed that a family member pulled the child from waist deep water but he was not breathing.

The Sheriff's office and multiple agencies sent personnel to the rural property near the town of McGrath about 15 miles east of Mille Lacs Lake, but officials say the rescue effort was hampered by approximately 14 inches of new snow that fell on that area last weekend. Sheriff Dan Guida says a snowmobile had to be used to transport the boy to an ambulance that was waiting on a plowed road.

The child was later pronounced dead at the emergency room of a local hospital. The Ramsey County medical examiner's office ruled his death was caused by freshwater drowning. The boy's name has not been released.