2nd Idaho boy dies after brother tried to save him in river

SANDPOINT, Idaho – A 17-year-old Idaho boy hospitalized after his brother died trying to save him from drowning has also died.

Isaac Grasser was on life support for three days but died last Friday, the Bonner County Daily Bee reported (http://bit.ly/2wEqzj6 ).

He struggled and panicked Aug. 1 in the Pend Oreille River. His 11-year-old brother Michael tried to rescue him after their mother tried to get help.

People heard the mother’s cries, found the 17-year-old, brought him to shore and began CPR.

While the resuscitation efforts on the teen were underway, Bonner County Dive Team members found the 11-year-old’s body in 6 to 7 feet (1.8-2.1 metres) of water. Michael was not breathing when he was pulled from the water and life-saving measures failed to revive him.

Isaac had no pulse, but rescuers performed CPR on him. His pulse returned and he was flown to a hospital.

Officials have said both boys were inexperienced swimmers who took off their life vests and were unaware of the river’s current.

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Information from: Bonner County (Idaho) Daily Bee, http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com