8-Year-Old Boy Dies After Falling Through Ice

An 8-year-old boy named Xavier Bordley tragically died after falling through thin ice while playing on a pond in Allen County, Indiana. On December 22, Xavier and another boy were near the pond when he fell in; the other boy attempted to rescue him but also fell through, though he managed to escape and alert Xavier's father. Emergency responders conducted a water rescue and found Xavier in critical condition, but he later died at a hospital in Indianapolis. The coroner's office confirmed that his death was ruled an accidental drowning. Initial reports incorrectly stated Xavier's age as nine, but the coroner later clarified he was eight. This incident has highlighted the dangers associated with playing on frozen bodies of water.