Water Mishaps Leave 5 People Dead in Mo

The Missouri Highway Patrol says water accidents in the state have left 5 people dead in the last 3 days.

On Thursday, a 5-year-old St. Joseph girl wandered away from her family at a beach in Watkins Mill State Park and was later found under water in the Williams Creek Lake. She died early Saturday at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

Troopers report a double drowning Friday afternoon claimed the lives of two men from Neosho, Mo.  The men were wading near the Shoal Creek Dam in the southwest part of the state.  One man lost his footing and was caught in the undercurrent and disappeared.  His companion attempted to come to his aid.  He too became caught in the undercurrent and drowned.  Their bodies were later recovered downstream.

A 5 year-old Webb City boy died Saturday after the kayak he was in overturned on the Shoal Creek.  Troopers say the kayak struck a submerged log, causing the kayak to turn over and pin the boy underneath it.  He was Lifeflighted to a hospital in Joplin where he was pronounced dead shortly after 7 p.m.

A 52 year-old man from the St. Louis area lost his life while swimming Saturday evening. Mark A. Friedel of Overland reportedly died from a shallow dive.  Friedel surfaced after the dive, but was gasping for air before resubmerging and surfacing face down. A bystander removed Friedel from the water.