The search continues this morning for a 13-year-old boy who was swept away while swimming in Amity Creek, following heavy rains.
Jefferson Anthony Bowen Jr. was last seen about 4 p.m. Tuesday after jumping into a popular swimming area known as "the Deeps" at Duluth's Lester Park. Heavy rain the night before created dangerous high-water conditions.
Portable lighting equipment was hauled in so that rescue workers could drag a large pool below a drop in the Amity throughout the night Tuesday.
Tom Crossmon, captain of the St. Louis County Search and Rescue Team, said that as daylight arrived the search was being expanded downstream.
The Lake County Rescue Squad is providing assistance. The U.S. Coast Guard has brought in a helicopter to search the mouth of the Lester River.
ADVERTISEMENT
Crossmon said crews were using a remotely operated submarine unit about the size of a shoe box to look for the boy. But turbid waters complicated the search, with visibility limited to about 3 inches.
Sonar units also are being deployed to aid in the recovery effort.
"It's not yet safe to put people in the water," said Crossmon. But falling river levels will probably make it possible to send divers into the area later in the day, he said.
"At last report, the water was down about 18 inches from where it was when we first arrived on the scene," said Crossmon. "That's a huge help."
Crossmon said Duluth police have done a good job of keeping curious onlookers away from the recovery effort. He asked well-intentioned members of the public to give workers plenty of room to do their jobs safely.
