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FAYETTE COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The Fayette County Coroner is investigating a “drowning incident” that took place over the weekend.
David Harris, coroner, said a child drowned in the river at Wren Bridge in Fayette County.
An autopsy still has to be scheduled, but Harris said the name of the child will not be released at this time to allow the family to grieve.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said they received a call that a nine-year-old girl was “actively drowning” and stuck under a log near Wren Bridge around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. First responders immediately left for the scene, and began rescue efforts.
First responders were told that the child had been swept underneath the logs and debris in the water. Rescuers worked to find the child for over 12 hours. Around 3 a.m., a decision was made to resume rescue and recovery operations at 8 a.m.
The sheriff’s office said the child was located and removed from under the logs and debris in the river around 11:09 a.m. on Sunday.
Around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said that Wren Bridge was “closed until further notice.” It reopened around 2 p.m. on Sunday.
The sheriff’s office recognized neighboring agencies, volunteers, businesses and citizens for their assistance. This includes:
- Fayette County Dispatch
- Vandalia Police Department Dispatch
- St Elmo Police Department
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers
- ILEAS Unified Command Post
- Ramsey Fire Protection District
- St Elmo Fire Protection District
- Brownstown Fire Protection District
- Tri County Fire
- MABAS Districts 54, 58, and 64
- Rural Med
- Arch Air Medical
- American Red Cross
- Fayette County Dive Team
- Effingham County Dive Team
- Shelby County Dive Team
- Keyesport Dive Teams
- Washburn Excavating Services
- Neeley Farms
- Ben Hortenstine
“We would also like to thank so many other people for providing items such as a port a potty, food and drinks to all the first responders and volunteers during this search as there were way too many to name individually,” the sheriff’s office said.
