By Marci Piltz

Record-Courier staff writer

MANTUA -- A 10-year-old Cuyahoga County boy drowned after disappearing in a lake at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park last weekend.

Kalen Hampton, of South Euclid, was pronounced dead at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna following the incident on Saturday, Mantua-Shalersville Fire Chief Matt Benner said.

According to Benner, fire crews were called to the park at 3392 S.R. 72 at 1:52 p.m. Saturday for a report of a child missing in the water.

"We were told he'd been missing for a little bit and the family had been looking for him," he said. "They cleared the swimming area by forming a human chain to search."

Portage County Sheriff Duane Kaley said it was after the chain was formed that Kalen's body was discovered in the water.

Benner, who was not on the scene, said he believed two lifeguards and at least one other adult pulled the boy out of the water prior to the arrival of emergency crews.

Emergency medical technicians worked on Kalen as they transported him to Robinson Memorial, but Benner said the boy was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after arrival.

According to Kaley, an investigation by the Portage County Sheriff's Office found Kalen was swimming in the lake with his brother when he disappeared. He was last seen at about 2 p.m. playing on a water trampoline in the lake.

"At one point, he disappeared in the water, and it appears the brother waited a little while before telling the family he was missing," Kaley said. "Upon notification of a child missing in the water, the park staff immediately cleared the water and started searching both the ground and water area."

The manager of Jellystone Park issued a statement saying "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family with regard to this unfortunate incident and the park intends to fully cooperate with all local authorities."

Wayne Enders, administrator for the Portage County Coroner's Office, said no autopsy is being conducted because "the cause of death was obviously asphyxiation from water."