KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A 6-year-old girl has been recovered at Longview Lake, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
The child, according to MSHP, was swimming in the lake on Saturday but "did not resurface after going under the water."
"It's a tragedy that we see too often," said MSHP Sgt. Bill Lowe.
Lowe told media Saturday night that a group of people were on a flotation device "similar to what they call a lily pad." At some point, the girl, who was not wearing a life jacket, went into the water.
Lowe said the group was in an area of the lake where swimming is not allowed. A couple individuals who were in the same area on seadoos "helped remove some of the other occupants," according to Lowe.
Possible drowning: We are currently conducting a search for child who was swimming in Longview Lake but did not resurface after going under the water. Further updates to follow as we are made aware. #MSHP pic.twitter.com/5fbZepkm5d
— MSHP Troop A (@MSHPTrooperA) August 22, 2020
Kansas City, Missouri, fire crews assisted on scene, along with the Lee's Summit Fire Department, Lee's Summit Underwater Rescue and park rangers.
"We're all doing the best we can to find this child," Lowe said.
Lowe advised that everyone, regardless of swimming ability, wear a life jacket. He also said there is "no reason to be swimming from a bank."
MSHP no longer lists juveniles on its reports.
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Editor's note: MSHP incorrectly listed the age of the child as five years old in a previous report. The child was actually six.
