It's a tragic day for an Arizona family. A 12-year-old boy has died after he fell into a Utah river. Sadly, the young boy drowned in the strong currents.
According to Fox News, the boy was vacationing with his family. They were near the Bridal Veil Falls. The young child fell into the Prov River around 1:45 p.m. The currents ended up sweeping him miles downstream. In response to the emergency, multiple emergency responders searched for the boy at various points in the river.
While they spotted the boy, they were ultimately unable to rescue him. One emergency responder jumped into the river to save him, but he failed to reach the boy. Currents played a crucial factor in the boy's untimely passing. Authorities said that waters swept the boy at 10 to 12 mph.
Ultimately, authorities retrieved the boy near Orem. That was four miles downstream from where he initially fell in. There was some miscommunication over the status of the boy. While the sheriff's office reported the boy safe and sound, sadly he later died at a local hospital.
Boy Dies After Falling In River
Previously, officials warned about getting too close to the Provo River. The body of water is known for its strong currents and quick-moving water. As a result, they urged people to keep their distance.
"The Provo River is currently running at a very fast rate throughout the county," the Provo Police Department said in a social media post. "It is EXTREMELY dangerous to recreate anywhere nearby - PLEASE STAY AWAY. Consider alternative locations until the flow returns to normal. If you do visit parks or trails along the Provo River, stay at least 40 feet away from riverbanks."
The news comes after 3-year-old Levi Wright died after driving his toy tractor into a Utah creek. The creek was on the estate of the family. Levi was the son of rodeo icon Spencer Wright. Waters swept him off his toy tractor while he took a concrete path that divided the creek. Levi was in critical condition for weeks, but ultimately, his family decided to pull his life support due to the lack of brain function. It's a sad situation for both families, proving why it's important to practice proper precatuions.