Five Year Old Boy Drowns
June 10, 2007 - 6:14PM
A North Georgia group is mourning the death of a five year old boy, who drowned on a family trip to the river. It happened in Trion Saturday night. Tragedy struck when a boat carrying nine people overturned in the Chattooga River. Police tell us the boat made for two, was holding three adults and six children. Emergency responders say they the saw eight victims laying on the bank, many barely breathing. Unfortunately, five year old Dakota Avans was still in the water. The Chattooga River flows on a beautiful summer day, much like yesterday when two families took their children to play by the River. Chattooga County Sheriff's Office Detective Eddia Strup tells us it was a good idea, but bad decisions were made. "They were coming here to camp out, enjoy the River, and have a good Weekend."
But it was anything but when this boat they were riding in flipped over around six o-clock Saturday night, sending it's nine passengers, including six young children into the water.
Sturp says the boat should never hold that many passengers. "That's unbelievable to me, that they would try to put that many people in a boat."
Strup says all three adults AND each child made it to this bank, but five year old Dakota Avans someone slipped back in. "A deep sad feeling, I was very concerned that this child was possibly still in the river, that's troubling, it would be to anyone."
Investigator Strup says the Department of Natural Resources dragged the section of the river for several hours with no luck. Finally, another unit arrived with a thermal camera and they were able to find Dakota's body at three in the morning.
They found it right next to the where the boat lay, nine feet under the surface...
Strup says it's an accident that shouldn't have happened. "It's bad enough when this type of thing happens to an adult, but it's just horrible to see a young child like this lose his life this way."
Police tell us Dakota's mother, the other two adults, and a three year old were airlifted to Erlanger. They are all doing okay. NONE of the passengers were wearing a life jacket. Investigator Strup says no charges have been filed at this point.
But it was anything but when this boat they were riding in flipped over around six o-clock Saturday night, sending it's nine passengers, including six young children into the water.
Sturp says the boat should never hold that many passengers. "That's unbelievable to me, that they would try to put that many people in a boat."
Strup says all three adults AND each child made it to this bank, but five year old Dakota Avans someone slipped back in. "A deep sad feeling, I was very concerned that this child was possibly still in the river, that's troubling, it would be to anyone."
Investigator Strup says the Department of Natural Resources dragged the section of the river for several hours with no luck. Finally, another unit arrived with a thermal camera and they were able to find Dakota's body at three in the morning.
They found it right next to the where the boat lay, nine feet under the surface...
Strup says it's an accident that shouldn't have happened. "It's bad enough when this type of thing happens to an adult, but it's just horrible to see a young child like this lose his life this way."
Police tell us Dakota's mother, the other two adults, and a three year old were airlifted to Erlanger. They are all doing okay. NONE of the passengers were wearing a life jacket. Investigator Strup says no charges have been filed at this point.
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