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.

(Credit: MGN)

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.

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.