Body of 7-year-old boy found submerged at city park, North Carolina sheriff says

A 7-year-old boy found dead at a popular city park may have been a victim of drowning, according to investigators in North Carolina.

The body was discovered just before 7 p.m. Wednesday in Hickory, about a 60-mile drive northwest from uptown Charlotte.

“Multiple agencies responded to a report of a drowning at Bruce Meisner Park. When emergency responders arrived they recovered a seven (7) year old male child that was submerged in a body of water that connects to the park,” the sheriff’s office said in an April 1 news release.

“The child was transported to Frye Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. ... The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division is investigating this incident.”

The boy’s identity has not been released.

Bruce Meisner Park is 73 acres, and it borders a half-mile stretch of Falling Creek, the city reports. A playground and paved walking trail are among the amenities.

This story was originally published April 2, 2026 at 5:41 AM with the headline "Body of 7-year-old boy found submerged at city park, North Carolina sheriff says."