8-year-old drowns in Falls Lake on Saturday evening
An 8-year-old drowned Saturday evening at Falls Lake in Wake County, according to the Wake County Sheriff’s Office.
Just before 6 p.m., deputies responded to a reported drowning near a bridge on New Light Road near Ghoston Road, according to a news release.
First responders pulled the 8-year-old from the water. The child was transported to WakeMed and pronounced dead.
Two family members who attempted to rescue the child were also transported to WakeMed, the release states. Their injuries did not appear to be serious.
Every day, about 10 people die from unintentional drowning, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Two of those deaths are children under the age of 14, according to the CDC, and drowning is one of the leading causes of death for that age group.
To prevent drowning, the CDC recommends children wear life jackets in and around natural bodies of waters, such as lakes, even if they know how to swim. It also recommends that adults closely supervising children while in the water and know CPR.
