Child hospitalized after near-drowning at Watkins Mill State Park

A five-year-old girl remained hospitalized Thursday night after nearly drowning in a lake in Watkins Mill State Park, north of Excelsior Springs, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.

The child, from St. Joseph, remained in serious condition, the patrol said. She had wandered away from her family while swimming in Watkins Mill Lake, and disappeared for 7-10 minutes before she was found under water about 3 p.m., according to the patrol.

After first being taken to Excelsior Springs Hospital, the child was taken to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. She remained in serious condition Thursday night.

Ian Cummings, icummings@kcstar.com

This story was originally published July 23, 2015 at 10:48 PM with the headline "Child hospitalized after near-drowning at Watkins Mill State Park."