4-year-old missing 20 minutes dies after being pulled from IN lake, officials say
.jpg "A 4-year-old child drowned in an Indiana lake, officials say.")
Authorities in Indiana are investigating after a 4-year-old drowned in a lake.
On June 1, a 4-year-old child was visiting a home in Syracuse when they wandered away, according to a news release from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
At 4:45 p.m., the child’s parent called 911 and reported them missing when they couldn’t be found.
Police arrived and minutes later found the child underneath a pier at Syracuse Lake in 3 feet of water, officials said. The child was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead at 6:25 p.m.
The child had last been seen 20 minutes before being found in the lake, according to officials.
Investigators say the death was accidental. The child’s identity has not been released.
Syracuse is about a 145-mile drive north from Indianapolis.
Drowning
At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children.
Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water.
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment.
“Don’t hesitate to get out of the water if something doesn’t feel right,” the group said on its website. “Whether it’s that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. It’s always a good thing to trust your instincts.”
This story was originally published June 2, 2025 at 12:37 PM with the headline "4-year-old missing 20 minutes dies after being pulled from IN lake, officials say."
