Two drown, child hospitalized as heat wave sends many to lakes, pools to cool off

The lingering heat and the quest to cool off in water combined for a deadly start to the weekend, after two people drowned and a child was hospitalized in three separate incidents on Saturday.

A 46-year-old man from Plymouth died while splashing in the water with his family at William O'Brien State Park, a Washington County Sheriff's Office spokesman said.

Chandra Mohan Laghuvaram was swimming in the St. Croix River in water 4 to 6 feet deep when he went under for reasons that aren't clear, Washington County Sgt. James Gribble said.

Laghuvaram was at the park with family members, including his wife, children, sister, mother and brother-in-law, according to officials.

The Washington County Fire and Rescue found Laghuvaram in about 8 feet of water and brought him to shore, where medics from Lakeview Emergency Medical Services tried to revive him.

The Ramsey County Medical Examiner will do an autopsy to determine what might have happened.

At the popular Quarry Park and Nature Preserve in Waite Park, an 18-year-old male drowned after jumping into what Stearns County officials estimated was about 35 feet of water.

A joint dive team from Stearns and Benton counties responded, along with the Waite Park fire and rescue. The name of the victim wasn't released pending notification of family.

"On hot days, we are overwhelmed, especially with other areas closing or not being accessible," said Stearns County Lt. Kellan Hemmesch, about the popularity of the park. "Everyone wants to go swim at the quarries and jump in the water."

In Anoka County, a child was airlifted to Children's Minnesota Hospital in Minneapolis on Saturday evening after being found unresponsive in a pond at Lions Park in the city of Ham Lake. The condition of the child was unknown, according to the sheriff's officials, who planned no further updates on Saturday.

Emergency crews took the call about 7 p.m. after family and friends pulled the child from the water and began lifesaving measures, officials said.

Jackie Crosby • 612-673-7335

Twitter: @JackieCrosby