Boy Drowns At Bear Creek State Park

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A 5-year-old boy vanished from his parents sight while on a family outing to Bear Creek Lake State Park in Lakewood, Colorado. They were at the Big Soda Lake swimming beach, which has no lifeguards and relies on the self-monitoring of swimmers. I've taken kids to this particular swim beach many times myself. It's a relatively small area, perhaps 200 feet long and stretching 10-15 yards out into the water. It seems like a perfectly tame area for kids to splash around in the water.

The boys parents called 911 at about 3:30 P.M. to report the child missing. Police and firefighters were called to the scene, and other beachgoers began helping in the search. Just 15 minutes after the original call, a citizen helping in the search found the boy submerged in the water, just 20 feet from the shore.

By the time rescuers pulled the boy from the water, he was not breathing and had no pulse. Paramedics performed CPR on the child, but to no avail. The youngster was pronounced dead a short time later at Sweedish Medical Center. Lakewood Police spokeswoman Stacie Outon stated that investigators were still gathering information about the drowning, and would decide later whether any criminal charges were warranted.

It only takes a second for an accident to happen, and water is particularly dangerous for kids. Don't let it happen to your family! Teach your kids about water safety with the book 'My Water Safety Book,’ available online at no charge.