UPDATE: Police in Twin Lakes investigating water-related deaths of woman, 3-year-old
Updated: 4:25 p.m. August 6, 2018
TWIN LAKES, Wis. (CBS 58) --Two water deaths in Twin Lakes just hours apart Sunday. In both instances, bystanders jumped in to help.
The first incident happened around 12:30 p.m. in Lake Mary off of Lance Park. Twin Lakes police say 54-year-old Carol Varney from Racine was swimming with friends when she suddenly lost consciousness. She was immediately pulled from the water and taken to shore where CPR was performed. Varney was pronounced dead at Burlington Hospital.
“They were swimming around on the lake and eventually they noticed she had just stopped swimming, no struggling whatsoever,” Twin Lakes Police Captain Dennis Linn said.
Captain Linn says he believes her death was caused by a medical emergency and not drowning. Her autopsy was scheduled Monday.
Just hours later, around 3:45 p.m. first responders were called to Musial Beach on Lake Elizabeth for the drowning of 3-year-old Theodore Johnson.
The toddler was on an anchored pontoon boat just about 100 yards off the beach with his older brother. Police say at the time his life vest had come off. The rest of the family was out on a swimming pad attached to the boat and police say they did not hear Theodore fall or jump off.
Captain Linn said someone in another boat nearby found Theodore’s body in the water and began performing CPR and brought him to the shore. Theodore later died at the hospital.
“The family is from Twin Lakes and it’s very traumatic, very tragic, it’s just wow,” Captain Linn said. “I personally know these individuals and it’s just wow.”
Captain Linn is warning is everyone to be safe out on the water.
“Life jackets are a definite must,” he said. “Even if you think you’re in shape and you’re kayaking or boating, just wear your life jacket.”
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Posted: 6:11 p.m. August 5, 2018
TWIN LAKES, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A three-year-old boy died after a reported drowning Sunday afternoon at Lake Elizabeth in Twin Lakes.
Twin Lakes Police Department and Twin Lakes Rescue Squad received a call of a possible drowning at about 3:47 p.m. When they arrived at Musial Beach, they saw several people performing CPR on the boy.
Neighbors told CBS 58, the small community tried to help him.
“One of the others boaters saw the baby floating, scooped him up, started performing CPR on their boat, brought him on the dock, continued CPR and my neighbor helped with that,” said Diane Bucheit.
Twin Lakes Rescue Squad quickly responded to the boy and he was taken to Aurora Hospital in Burlington where he later died.
His name is being withheld until the family is notified.
Twin Lakes authorities were assisted by Richmond, IL Paramedics. Twin Lakes Police Department is investigating the cause of this water-related incident.