Ellsworth farmer and Luverne High School graduate Anthony “Tony” Boyenga died Saturday from an apparent heart attack.
In a press release from Rock Valley, Iowa, police chief Monte Warburton, the Sioux County Communications Center received an emergency call at 3:03 p.m. Saturday of a possible drowning at the swimming beach at Rivers Bend Campground located northwest of town.
Boyenga, 31, was swimming with his wife, Megan, and children when he went under the water and could not be found.
Efforts to find Boyenga were hampered by poor water clarity, making visibility near zero, according to Warburton.
The Sioux County Dive Team located Boyenga at 3:50 p.m., 47 minutes after the 911 call.
Avera Care Flight was called to the scene, but emergency responders were unable to resuscitate Boyenga.
An autopsy revealed severe blockage in the main heart artery, according to Megan Boyenga.
“Anthony suffered a massive heart attack,” she said.
Rock Valley Fire Department, Rock Valley Ambulance, Sioux County Sheriff’s Department, Sioux County Conservation and bystanders assisted at the scene.
Rivers Bend Campground is a 96-acre area formerly mined for sand and gravel extraction. The city of Rock Valley developed the full hookup campground with the assistance of the Northwest Iowa Community College.
In addition to the swimming hole, the campground has two stocked fishing ponds and 81 campsites near the Rock River.
The Boyengas farmed northwest of Ellsworth in Rock County with their five children, Rayden, Coyer, Bronly, Levicy and Hazyl.
The children are students at Luverne Elementary and Discovery Time.
His parents are Dennis and Amy Boyenga of Ellsworth.
Boyenga is a graduate of the LHS Class of 2006.