(Ocheyedan)– There’s been another tragedy on northwest Iowa waters.
Authorities were called around 6:50 p.m. Saturday to the “Ocheyedan Pit” south and east of Ocheyedan for a missing 18-year-old male.
The victim, Bruce Frazier of Sioux Falls had just finished using a rope swing when he and a friend began to swim across the pit toward a swimming beach on the north side. Frazier was able to make it about 150 feet from the beach when he started having difficulty swimming and called out for help. The victim’s friend was unable to return to assist due to his own fatigue, and Frazier slipped under water. A 911 call was made and the Ocheyedan Fire Department and ambulance arrived and were unable to locate the victim in a surface search. The Arnolds Park/Okoboji Underwater Search and Rescue Unit was called around 7:00 p.m. and arrived on the scene about 7:55 p.m. A diver was deployed and located the victim within three minutes of being in the water. The victim was found in about 15 feet of water. He was quickly brought to shore and was taken to the Osceola Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after 9:00 p.m.
