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Youngster who tried to save sister dies

HOUGHTON — A 12-year-old boy who was being airlifted to the University of Michigan Children’s Hospital from Aspirus Keweenaw on Tuesday after an incident in which he attempted to rescue his 8-year-old sister from drowning has died.

The Houghton County Sheriff’s Office on Friday reported that at 2:33 p.m. Tuesday, deputies were dispatched to Big Traverse Beach in Schoolcraft Township, near Rice Lake, in response to a report that four people were drowning in Lake Superior.

An 8-year-old girl was swept out into Lake Superior by the current, and three other people attempted to save her, but were also taken by the current, according to a release from the sheriff’s office.

“They were at the mouth of the slough (the mouth of the Traverse River),” Undersheriff Kevin Coppo said, “and, according to the deputy’s report, they could no longer touch bottom, and got pulled out in the current.”

The children’s mother yelled for help, he said, and a number of people on the beach who were not family members went out to the children and were able to get them back to shore.

Coppo said that when his deputy arrived at the scene, first responders were already conducting cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the boy.

The boy, who was from downstate, was treated by first responders and transported to Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital’s Emergency Room. He later died while being airlifted to the University of Michigan Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor.

In addition to the Sheriff’s Office, Bootjack First Responders, Lake Linden Police Department and Mercy Ambulance assisted at the scene.

Due to the boy’s age, his name is not being released.

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