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Boy who fell through ice at Crystal Lake dies

A dive team pulled the boy out of a lake in Colorado Tuesday, while three other children got out with help from neighbors.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — A boy who was among four children to fall through ice into a neighborhood lake has died, the Douglas County Coroner's Office said Friday.

Family members identified the boy as Dyllan Whittenburg, 14. 

On Tuesday, two boys and two girls were on the ice and fell through on Crystal Lake, in a neighborhood just north of Roxborough State Park in Douglas County.

A spokesperson for West Metro Fire said they first got the call for help around 2:27 p.m. and that a group of neighbors helped three of the children get to safety using hoses, extension cords and ropes. A West Metro Fire dive team pulled out the fourth child.

The dive team pulled out the boy by about 3:06 p.m. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital, the spokesperson said.

Family and community members gathered at Crystal Lake Friday for a vigil to honor Whittenburg's life. 

Credit: Mark Zoleta
Family and community members gather at Crystal Lake for a vigil to honor the life of 14 year old Dyllan Whittenburg.

“He lit up a room literally when he’d walk through the room," Lynnete Sherock said to those who attended. 

Family members said Dyllan lost his life trying to save his friends that were in the lake. 

“Tragedy is when life is unfair. And without question, this is certainly unfair," said a pastor from a nearby church who also led the crowd in prayer. 

"[Dyllan] was willing to even put his life at risk for the safety of others," the pastor said. 

A large crowd lined the sidewalk around Crystal Lake with candles. 

Family members also released balloons in his honor. 

Credit: Photo courtesy of the Whittenburg family.
A photo of Dyllan Whittenburg.

The three other children were OK after their ordeal, according to West Metro Fire. Once they got out of the water, Kristi Saine, who lives in a home that borders the lake, said she brought the three children into her home to warm up, change clothes and take showers.

"It was sad. Their hands were purple. Their feet were frozen," she said. "At first I honestly didn’t know what to do, but I just knew I had to get them out of their wet clothes and get them warm."

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