Two children were flown to Des Moines hospitals in separate near-drowning incidents over the weekend at state park beaches. Alex Murphy, spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, is reminding parents to keep a close eye on their kids’ whereabouts and have them wear life jackets – even though they’re not required for swimming at a state park beach.
A two-year-old girl disappeared while swimming at Big Creek State Park near Des Moines on Saturday night — and was found underwater. CPR was performed, the child was revived and last reported in critical condition. A similar situation happened Sunday at Rock Creek State Park in Jasper County where a nine-year-old was rescued. Murphy says swimming at a state park beach can be dangerous, as the floor of the lake can drop off suddenly.
Two other incidents on Iowa waterways claimed lives over the weekend. On Friday, a Minnesota man drowned in the Des Moines River while trying to save his 7-year-old niece. It happened below Red Rock Dam in Marion County. In Wapello County, a fisherman disappeared Saturday morning on the Des Moines River in Ottumwa. His boat was found, unoccupied, later in the day. The body of 79-year-old Richard Mart, of Ottumwa, was recovered from the river Monday morning.
