The incident occurred in Goodnews Bay, Alaska on Thursday, April 23
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NEED TO KNOW
- A 3-year-old boy died after falling through ice in Goodnews Bay, Alaska, on Thursday, April 23
- Alaska State Troopers have warned residents about rapidly changing ice conditions during spring, which can create hidden hazards
- Another child was rescued on Sunday, April 19, after falling through thin ice in Kodiak, Alaska
A toddler died after falling through ice in Alaska last week, authorities said.
The Alaska Department of Public Safety was alerted to the 3-year-old having fallen through ice near a culvert in Goodnews Bay around 10 p.m local time on Thursday, April 23, the department said in a news release.
Family members and village volunteers conducted an “extensive search” for the child, according to officials — even breaking the ice around the culvert and using an excavator in an attempt to get under it, local news outlet KYUK reported.
The ice was several inches thick, a spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Public Safety tells PEOPLE.
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After approximately an hour and a half, the boy was finally located and pronounced dead. The child’s family was notified at the scene, according to the Alaska Department of Public Safety.
An investigation is ongoing.
Following the incident, a spokesperson with the Alaska Department of Public Safety issued a warning to residents to be wary of icy areas.
“Spring brings rapidly changing ice conditions, and what appears solid from a distance can be dangerously unstable,” the spokesperson said, according to Alaska News Source. “Daytime warming, sun exposure, and underlying currents weaken ice from above and below. This deterioration happens quickly and unevenly, creating hidden hazards.”
“Fall‑throughs happen fast and can be life‑threatening in minutes. Taking precaution to avoid thin ice helps protect not only yourself but also responders who may be called to assist,” the spokesperson added.
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The toddler’s death comes days after a similar incident with a different ending: According to the Kodiak Daily Mirror, a 10-year-old boy was pulled to safety by first responders after falling through thin ice on Sunday, April 19.
That happened around 1:20 p.m. local time on Island Lake in Kodiak, Alaska. The boy was pulled out of the water and left cold and wet but ultimately unharmed, the outlet reported.
People falling through ice have prompted several rescues already this year.
Last month, first responders jumped in to rescue a woman in Fairbanks, Alaska. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment, according to ABC News.
