8-year-old last seen struggling in Minnesota River found dead

UPDATE 7/22 – The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office says a girl who was last seen struggling in the waters of the Minnesota River Thursday evening has been found dead.

In an 11 a.m. news conference Friday, authorities said the 8-year-old girl — Willow Rae Bense — had been found near a sandbar around 8:40 a.m. by a crew who had been searching the river in a boat.

Thursday, authorities had said the search began around 6 p.m. after two of the four children who were swimming in the river near the sandbar with family members began struggling in deep water.

A bystander was able to help one of the children who was struggling out of the water, but not the 8-year-old girl.

Multiple agencies helped with the search, and nearly a dozen boats were in the water at one point.

The sheriff’s office also stressed the importance of wearing life jackets when in water.

An earlier version of this report can be found below.

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INITIAL REPORT 7/21 – A search is underway in Mankato after an 8-year-old girl was seen struggling in deep water in the Minnesota River near Sibley Park.

A news release from the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office states that a family with four children was swimming in the river near a sandbar around 6 p.m. Thursday night.

Witnesses reported two of the children began struggling and that a bystander was able to help one of the children out of the water, but not the 8-year-old girl.

Several first responder agencies are continuing their search efforts on the river, according to the news release.

At 7:15 a.m., authorities said they were unsuccessful in finding the girl despite searching throughout the night.

This is a developing story and will be updated with further information as it becomes available.