MN Father Died While Rescuing His Kids From River

SHERBURNE COUNTY, MN — A father died while rescuing his children from strong river currents in central Minnesota, authorities confirmed Sunday.

The dad was identified as Cody Jay Pope, 41.

At about 11:45 p.m. on Friday, the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of several people struggling in the water at Rivers Edge Commons in Elk River.

A father and his two children were swimming on a sandbar in the river. The children began to struggle in the current, and the father grabbed onto one of the children and was able to get her to the sandbar, according to authorities.

The father then jumped in again and pushed the second child toward the shore before the man disappeared under the water, investigators said.

Elk River firefighters and police were able to retrieve the child from the water. The children told firefighters and police officers that their dad was missing.

On Sunday at about 9:40 a.m., a water patrol unit found the man's body in the Mississippi River near the Oliver Kelley Farm, authorities said.