Chaffee teenager drowns in farm pond near Kelso

KELSO, Mo. -- Thirteen-year-old Brandon Sandvos was an outdoorsman in the making. He loved to fish, hunt deer with his dad and ride his four-wheeler in Scott County's scenic countryside.

The Chaffee teenager drowned Sunday in a private pond near Kelso while trying to retrieve a paddle during a day of fishing with a friend.

Sandvos drowned in water roughly 9 feet deep after apparently jumping from a homemade raft about 3:20 p.m. Sunday, according to the Missouri State Water Patrol.

His body was found about four hours later about 30 yards from shore, authorities said.

The pond was on the property of a relative on County Road 211 between New Hamburg and Kelso, said Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter. A friend of Sandvos' watched as he jumped into the water after a paddle, Walter said."He saw him jump in, but he never saw him come back out," Walter said. "He waited a few seconds, 30 seconds to a minute, then he went to a nearby house and called for help."

Rescue personnel from several agencies and search dogs scoured the water and the surrounding area looking for Sandvos for four hours before finding his body. Authorities hoped the boy had gotten out of the water while his friend was calling for help and wandered off.

The American Red Cross responded and handed out food and water to the searchers. By the end of the day, Walter said, more than 100 people including friends and family were on the scene when the body was discovered.

"It was not a good day," Walter said.

Chief deputy coroner Jerry Goin said the cold temperatures of the water and the fact that Sandvos was not a strong swimmer were likely factors in his death. Goin said Sandvos was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:46 p.m. He was not wearing a personal flotation device.

Goin said Sandvos' friend was 11 years old and was on the banks while Sandvos was on the raft. Goin said he understands the pond covered about 2 acres.

"The whole thing was heart-breaking," Goin said of the family. "It's been tough on them, really tough."

Karen Burger was Sandvos' seventh-grade teacher at Kelso C-7 School in New Hamburg.

"Brandon was a hard worker," she said. "He was outgoing, fun-loving. He loved to play sports. He loved to joke around. He was a really happy kid. The other kids really cared for him, and they're really sad right now."

Extra counselors were on hand Monday to talk to students. The school of 120 will be dismissed Wednesday so the children can attend the funeral.

Sandvos is survived by his mother and stepfather, Sonja and Bruce Westrich of New Hamburg; his father and stepmother, David and Carol Sandvos of Scott City; two brothers, Cameron Westrich of New Hamburg and Jacob Sandvos of Scott City; and a sister, Elizabeth Sandvos of Scott City.

Visitation will be at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Scott City from 4 to 8 p.m. today. Parish prayers will be at 7 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Rev. David Coon officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137