10-Year-Old Boy Dies Trying To Save 5-Year-Old Sister From Drowning In River

A 10-year-old boy in South Dakota died while trying to save his 5-year-old sister, who fell into a river.

According to local reports, Ricky Sneve was at the Big Sioux River in Hudson with his father and siblings Saturday when the incident occurred.

Sneve's siblings had fallen into the river, following which his father immediately jumped in to save their lives. Sneve's uncle wrote on a GoFundMe page the boy had jumped into the river after his sister, Chevelle.

Moments later, the father saw Sneve was missing. Chevelle was safe, but the condition and age of other siblings were not revealed.

A large-scale rescue operation was launched by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office in Canton to find Sneve, N'Westiowa reported. The Hudson Fire and Rescue, Hawarden Fire and Rescue, Ireton Fire and Rescue, Alcester Fire and Rescue and Akron Fire and Rescue along with several other departments, dive teams and police departments, were all part of the search operation. Just hours later, the sheriff's office confirmed they had found the body of the 10-year-old.

"We unfortunately have a tragic update to the situation in Hudson," the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said. "The dive team recovered the body of the 10-year-old boy. We ask that you please respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time... Our sympathies are with the family and the first responders who assisted in the recovery."

The boy's uncle, Ricky Eufers, who set up the GoFundMe page said his nephew was "a very intelligent and smart young boy who loved his family and was an adventurous little guy."

"My nephew jumped into the Big Sioux River to help his little sister who had fallen in and didn’t come back up to the shore after getting his little sister to safety," the GoFundMe page read. "He’d do anything to help his mom or anyone at that, without ever being asked. Ricky gave his life trying to do what he knew was best. Please help my sister Nicole have some relief in these absolutely difficult times. All donations will be sent to her relief."