8-yr-old boy drowns at Verde River

An 8-year-old boy drowned in Northern Arizona on the Fourth of July, according to a spokesperson for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies say the boy was on his uncle's shoulders, crossing the river to look at some caves in the Beasley Flat recreation area. As they were returning to the shore from their excursion, the boy's uncle stepped into a deep hole and both went under water. The uncle could not find his nephew, and the boy never resurfaced. People nearby began helping to look for the boy, and a passerby called 911.

The Swift Water Rescue Team from Campe Verde Fire district was deployed, along with an Arizona DPS helicopter. The boy's mother, who was at home in Prescott Valley, was brought to the river. The boy was found under four feet of water, and was confirmed dead on the scene.