HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded late Monday morning in Harrison Township when 2-year-old Maxwell Anderson was reported missing from his family’s home off Manse Street.
Tamara Canady, who works at the marina nearby, described the chaotic moments after the first 911 call came in around 11 a.m.
“I saw at least eight cop cars flying from the station that’s right across the street here past my marina,” she told Local 4.
It was an “all-out effort” to find the boy.
Neighbors and family members, according to police and witnesses, went searching for him, along with police and tracking dogs.
“I saw everybody running around calling the kid’s name. The dad was on a jet ski looking for him,” Canady said.
Roughly 30 minutes later, a neighbor made the devastating discovery, finding Maxwell in about five feet of water, just 50 feet from the home.
The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office said no foul play is suspected, but it appears the little boy may have wandered and gotten into the Clinton River through a makeshift fence behind the home.
“His feet were sticking up; that’s how they found him. His dad was no more than 50 feet away,” said Canady.
“He was able to locate the child on the floor of the river. The child had sunken down to the ground,” said Macomb County Sheriff Commander Jason Abro.
Deputies and emergency personnel rushed to help, performing CPR in the back of a patrol car with the child’s mother beside them.
“The mother of the child was in the passenger seat. We had two of our officers performing life-saving efforts,” Cmdr. Abro said.
Despite continued resuscitation attempts on the way and at McLaren Hospital in Mount Clemens, the toddler could not be saved.
“We threw everything in our toolbox at this; we had canines out. We had multiple personnel deputies. And it’s unfortunate that we end up with this situation where we’re at,” said Cmdr. Abro. “This is a tragic incident, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Maxwell during his difficult time.”
“Any child unattended should always have a life jacket on, 12 and under. Period. End of story,” said Canady.