Boy drowns at Clark County lake

A 7-year-old Ingalls boy drowned Sunday afternoon after falling into the Clark State Fishing Lake in Clark County.
    The boy, whose name has not been released due to his age, was at the 300-acre lake with his family when he wandered off, slipped on the rocks and fell into the water, Clark County Sheriff Eric Bates said Monday in a news release. The boy did not know how to swim and was unable to make his way back to shore.
    Two of the boy's male cousins were with him and attempted to save him, but were unsuccessful, according to the news release. The cousins then ran to their family to contact emergency services.
    Sheriff's officers received a report of a missing child at about 2:10 p.m. Sunday, and the report later changed to a possible child drowning, according to the news release. Clark County EMS was sent to the scene, and Ford County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Shrader and Bucklin Chief of Police Bill Carr went to assist.
    The boy's family found the boy about 10 feet from the lake's shoreline at the southeast boat dock and brought him to shore, where the family provided life support until Clark County sheriff's officers arrived and took over.
    A small section of Kansas Highway 94 was shut down so a Life Team helicopter could land, and the boy was transported from the boat ramp to the helicopter.
    The child was then airlifted to Western Plains Medical Complex in Dodge City, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
    Bates said he wanted to thank the law enforcement officers and emergency medical personnel for their assistance.
    "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time of their loss," he said.
    The lake is located 8.5 miles south and one mile west of Kingsdown on Kansas Highway 94.