08/03/2010 // West Palm Beach, FL, USA // Sandra Quinlan // Sandra Quinlan
Shreveport, LA—A gathering of friends and family turned deadly when six teenagers drowned in the Red River Monday, August 2, 2010. The teens were reportedly fooling around in a shallow area of the river when they suddenly stepped into an 18-foot sinkhole. Unable to swim, the teens tragically died while attempting to save one another, according to information provided by the New York Daily News.
Reports indicated a large group consisting of friends and family, 20 of whom were children, gathered at a Shreveport beach to enjoy yet another summer day. However, something went wrong as approximately seven teens, accompanied by a few adults, played in the shallow water of the Red River.
At some point, the teens managed to step off a ledge in the water and into an 18-foot sinkhole. “They were out there with some adults. But unfortunately, neither the children nor the adults could swim,” explained Shreveport Assistant Fire Chief Fred Sanders.
Police were reportedly dispatched to the scene after receiving a call concerning one drowning at 6:30 p.m. Approximately 10 minutes after their arrival, they found the sinkhole and discovered there were far more causalities than initially assumed.
According to family friend Marilyn Robinson, “They were yelling ‘Help me, help me. Somebody please help me.” Unable to swim, Robinson watched the horrific episode from ashore. “It was nothing I could do but watch them drown one by one,” she added.
Reports indicated one teen, a 14-year-old, was rescued. The bodies of the six teens, whose identities were withheld, have since been recovered. Their ages reportedly ranged from 13 to 18.
Sanders noted the city of Shreveport had not experienced a calamity such as this one, adding, “It’s devastating.”
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