Two young boys are dead following a drowning incident in Osage County.

 

According to the Osage County Sheriff's Office, the incident happened on Saturday evening at when the two boys fell through thin ice on Bird Creek west of Avant. Investigators say the boys were 8 and 9 years old but have not released their names. Dozens of emergency personnel worked for several hours to locate the boys, utilizing ground teams, aerial drones, a specialized rescue boat, and dive teams.

 

The Osage County Sheriff's Office responded to the call with the assistance of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Underwater Recovery Team, Tulsa Fire Department’s Oklahoma Task Force One Search and Rescue Team, Avant, Skiatook, and Barnsdall Fire Departments, Survival Flight EMS, and the numerous additional responders who assisted throughout the night.

 

As winter conditions continue, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office urges the public to avoid walking, playing, or operating vehicles on frozen bodies of water. Ice conditions can be unpredictable and extremely dangerous, even when they appear solid.

 

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

 

Photo courtesy Osage County Sheriff's Office