July 13, 2022 2:45p
(WGTD)---The five-year-old boy who was found floating in Lake Michigan off of Pennoyer Park Tuesday evening has died.
According to a news release from the Kenosha Police Department, a citizen using his drone spotted the boy after about 15 minutes. He was rushed to the hospital where he later died.
According to the release, the boy was located about 50 ft. from shore in an area of strong currents and undertows that develop as the result of the Pike River emptying into the lake.
The boy was not identified, and police said the investigation is continuing.
The chain of events began around 6 p.m. when first responders were summoned for an eight-year-old girl who was struggling in the water. She was pulled out, taken to the hospital for a check-up then released.
At about the same time, people in the girl's group discovered that a five-year-old member was missing. That set in motion a frantic search effort that involved a number of agencies, including the Coast Guard.
In the release, both Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman and Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian expressed their condolences to the family of the drowning victim.
Noting that hundreds of people were in the park and on the beach at the time of the incidents, officials are reminding anyone in need of counseling that the county's Mental health Resource Center at 262-764-8555. is available to provide help.
Antaramian noted that a grant is being sought from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation as officials continue to look for solutions to mitigate the undertow at the beach.
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