Two boys, ages 8 and 9, died after falling through ice on Bird Creek in Osage County on Saturday, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies received a 911 call at about 7:13 p.m. reporting that residents and first responders had located the first victim in the water near the bank of Bird Creek in Avant.

One child was removed from the water and lifesaving measures were started, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff’s office said.

Search efforts intensified for the second child in an area of broken ice along a large section of the creek.

Dozens of emergency personnel worked for several hours using ground teams, aerial drones, a specialized rescue boat and dive teams. The second victim was located and recovered at about 11:30 p.m., the sheriff’s office said.

Officials urged the public to avoid walking, playing or operating vehicles on frozen bodies of water, saying ice conditions can be unpredictable and dangerous.

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