Pine Bluffs toddler drowns at Oliver

Despite heroic efforts at the scene, in the ambulance and at hospitals, 3-year-old Bentley Graves died following an accident at nearby Oliver Reservoir, according to Kimball County Sheriff Deputy Brandon Loy.

The Kimball County Sheriff’s dispatch center received a 911 call of a possible drowning victim at the reservoir at approximately 6:40 p.m. on Saturday, June 27. Bentley died about 3 a.m. next day.

He was near the swimming area at the lake and wandered into the water, according to Loy. The family was able to pull the child out of the water and a bystander began CPR.

Because Loy was already at the recreation area on another call, he arrived quickly and took over resuscitation efforts, he said.

Bentley was taken by ambulance to Kimball Health Services and then transferred by helicopter to Denver Children’s Hospital.

Fundraisers to support the family have yet to be organized, according to Loy, though a meal train has been organized to assist the boy’s parents and their other children.

For more information on how to help, visit mealtrain.com.