9-Year-Old Child's Body Recovered After Falling Into Polk County Lake

Updated: Nov. 29

DUNDEE, FL — After a four-day search, the Polk County Sheriff's Office has recovered the body of a 9-year-old boy from Port St. Lucie who fell from a boat on Saturday into Lake Annie south of Dundee, according to the sheriff's office.

Deputies, along with Polk County Fire Rescue, responded to Lake Annie at 2:39 p.m. on Saturday, and had boats in the water immediately to search for the boy, said the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's marine unit, underwater search-and-recovery team, aviation unit and drone units were involved in the extensive search, according to the sheriff's office along with the Polk County Fire Rescue, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.

"It's a tragedy, and an unimaginable nightmare for the family of the boy," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.

Judd said the divers' search was hampered by the fact that the lake is so large and with depths of 16 feet and poor visibility.

The boy and his two brothers were on his father's pontoon Saturday. Judd said the boy fell over the front and was struck by the boat's propeller. The father immediately jumped into the water to look for his son, while one of the other boys called 911 for help.

The victim was not wearing a personal flotation device when he fell into the water, but was not required to wear one by law.