KCK Firefighters recover body of 11-year-old who drowned in the river

Posted: August 22, 2020 - 10:25 p.m.
Updated: August 25, 2020 - 5:25 a.m.


UPDATE: Kansas City, Kansas Police say they were called to the Kansas River near the Turner Diagonal about 5:30 Monday evening after a boater reported a body.

In a news release, police say they fire department launched two boats onto the river just before 6 p.m. and recovered the body near the western bank of the river under the Turner Diagonal at 6:14 p.m.

Police have now identified the girl as Rebecca Van Sui Par, 11, of Kansas City, Kansas.

"The preliminary investigation indicates an accidental drowning, but will remain under investigation by the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department's detectives unit pending autopsy results," the release said.

----Original report----

Kansas City, Kansas firefighters searched the Kansas River for about six hours after a child was reported missing while swimming with family on Saturday afternoon.

Kansas City, Kansas Fire established their command post on the I-435 overpass.
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All photos ©Mike Frizzell - Operation 100 News

Police and firefighters were called to the river, just east of the Interstate 435 overpass about 3:30 p.m.

"Upon arrival, officers were informed that while a family was playing near a sand bar in the Kansas River a beach ball was stuck causing it to land in a portion of the river where the current was moving rapidly and undercurrent was present," Officer Dustin Dierenfeldt of the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department said in a news release.

Ofc. Dierenfeldt says an 11-year-old girl entered the river trying to retrieve the ball when she was sucked under the water surface.

"One adult and two juveniles entered the water to rescued the 11-year-old, but also required rescue," Ofc. Dierenfeldt said.

Shawnee Police assisted with contacting the family on the south side of the river.

Firefighters from the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department searched the river until 9 p.m. with four boats and the assistance of a helicopter from the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.

The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department's helicopter assisted with the search on Saturday.

About 7 p.m., the Overland Park Police Department's dive team arrived at the Turner boat ramp and began their search of the river. The dive team is equipped with Sonar capabilities to better see under the water.

KCK Fire ended their search for the night at 9 p.m.,  At 10 p.m., Kansas City, Kansas Police said the girl had not been located and efforts had shifted from rescue to recovery.

Firefighters returned Sunday morning and searched the river from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. with three boats. As of 5 p.m., KCK Police say the girl has not been located.

KCK Police say the incident is under investigation by their Criminal Investigations Bureau. Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).


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Second pool related accident turns fatal in Overland Park

Posted: June 29, 2012 - 8:54pm
Updated: July 6, 2012 - 10:07am

UPDATE: Overland Park Police confirm that the 6-year-old boy rescued from an Overland Park pool a week ago, today, has died. The boy lived in the Four Winds apartment complex in the 8000 block of Perry Street. Officials say the boy went missing from his family's apartment for about 10 minutes before he was located in the pool. He was transported by Johnson County Med-Act to an area hospital in critical condition after paramedics and family members performed CPR.


Original Post: June 30, 2012
Overland Park Police are investigating after two separate pool related accidents on Friday.

Police say the first occurred around 5:30 p.m., at the Econo Lodge located at 7508 Shawnee Mission Parkway. A man was pronounced deceased on that scene after he was pulled from the pool. Police have not released any further information regarding this incident or the circumstances surrounding it.

The second incident occurred before 8 p.m., at the Four Winds Apartments in the 8000 block of Perry Street. Police say the family of a 6-year-old boy were searching for him throughout the complex. The boy was found by another resident after that resident "stumbled" over the boy on the bottom of the pool. The boy was pulled from the pool and emergency crews performed CPR for an "extended period" according to Johnson County Med-Act. As of this report, Police say the boy is in critical condition at an area hospital.

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Olathe drowning, September 24th

The Olathe Police Department has identified the man who drowned at Water Works Park, in the 600 block of South Curtis, on Saturday, September 24th shortly after 10 p.m.. The victim has been identified as 36-year-old, Olathe resident, Michael J. Carlson.

Olathe Police were called to the Water Works Park after witnesses reported hearing someone yelling for help from the water. The Olathe Fire Department, Johnson County Med-Act and Overland Park Police Department's Dive Team responded to assist in the search.

Carlson's body was recovered and was transported to Olathe Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.

No other information on this incident is being released by Police at this time.

All information provided by the Olathe Police Department

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