A 9-year-old boy and his 54-year-old father drowned in a river in Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture, on Saturday.
Police said a woman called 110 at around 2 p.m., saying she had seen the body of a boy floating in the Nakagawa River, Fuji TV reported. Police and firefighters rushed to the scene and retrieved the body of the boy, Mizuki Fujiwara. He was taken to hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.
The body of the boy’s father, Yutaka, was found at around 5 p.m. some 200 meters upstream. He was taken to hospital where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.
Police said the area along the river is a popular leisure and fishing spot but the water level had risen after recent heavy rain. Police said family members told them Fujiwara and his son had gone for a walk along the river bank. Police believe the boy somehow fell in and that his father got into difficulties trying to rescue him.
© Japan Today
8 Comments
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Scorpion
R.I.P. Gone to soon. You will be missed by many. See you on the other side.
Marr Bourdein
Really sad to hear this type of news. Rivers are not to be messed with. Under currents can be strong at times without warning. Rest In Peace.
Gazman
I take my kids (9 yo & 12 yo) there regularly, I’ve never seen anyone swimming there, it’s not a part of the river for swimming….only fishing and throwing stones etc. I saw the police and fire trucks there yesterday & guessed someone had jumped from the bridge which happens all to often.
Designer 02
RIP both. Condolences to the family who must be absolutely devastated.
Laguna
Rivers scare me. The ocean is forgiving, with the waves coming and going, allowing a chance of escape, but a river is relentless.
kurisupisu
Learning to swim in rivers and the sea is not part of the curriculum in schools in Japan but it should be as there are deaths every year