Boy Drowned Off Lauderdale-By-The-Sea During July 4th Event
LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA (CBS4) – A young boy visiting South Florida from the Bahamas drowned off Lauderdale-by-the-Sea during a Fourth of July event.
Carrington Clarke, 8, flew to Fort Lauderdale the day before with his cousin to visit an uncle.
The three went with friends to the beach Monday afternoon. Around 3:30 p.m., four of the children attempted to swim to a sand bar about 50 yards from shore. An 11-year-old girl made it, but when she turned around, she noticed the other three struggling in the water about half-way between the shoreline and the sand bar.
The Broward Sheriff's Office said lifeguards, volunteer firefighters and emergency response workers were already on the beach for a planned rescue demonstration when they noticed the children struggling in the water. After rescuing the children they were told Clarke was missing.
About 10-15 minutes later, a BSO helicopter located Clarke about 100 yards south of where he was last seen. A Lauderdale-by-the-See volunteer firefighter on a wave runner and lifeguards pulled him from the water. He was rushed to Holy Cross Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
