ELK RIVER, Minn. — Emergency crews and law enforcement are searching for a man in the Mississippi River near the Highway 101 bridge in Elk River.
According to the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office, shortly before noon Friday, deputies were notified of several people struggling in the water at Rivers Edge Commons in Elk River. Deputies said a man and two kids were swimming from a sandbar when both children began to struggle in the river's strong current.
The man was able to grab one of the kids and get her back to the sandbar. Officials say the man then jumped in to help the other child and he managed to push that child towards the river's shore. However, the man then disappeared under the water.
Elk River firefighters and police were able to retrieve the child near the river's shore.
"The children told firefighters and police officers that their dad was missing," according to the news release.
Nick Bridges said he saw the whole situation unfold on Friday morning and described the scene as "extremely" hard to witness.
"I watched them all, the whole family, watched them playing on the sandbar," Bridges said. "Later, I heard screams for help in the river."
A dozen agencies are involved in the ongoing search.
This is a developing story. KARE 11 will provide more details as new information becomes available.