10-year-old Johnny Jackson had gone swimming for the first time and more than an hour after his swim he died from 'dry drowning'.

On Sunday, Jackson had taken her son, Johnny, to a pool near their home in Goose Creek, S.C. It was the first time he’d ever gone swimming — and, tragically, it would be his last.

At some point during his swim, Johnny got some water in his lungs. He didn’t show any immediate signs of respiratory distress, but the boy had an accident in the pool and soiled himself. Still, Johnny, his sister and their mother walked home together.

“We physically walked home. He walked with me,” Jackson said, still trying to understand how her son could have died. “I bathed him, and he told me that he was sleepy.”

Later, she went into his room to check on him. “I walked over to the bed, and his face was literally covered with this spongy white material,” she said. “And I screamed.”

A family friend, Christine Meekins, was visiting and went to see what was wrong. “I pulled his arm and said, ‘Johnny! Johnny!’ ” Meekins told NBC. “There was no response. I opened one of his eyes and I just knew inside my heart that it was something really bad.”

Johnny was rushed to a local hospital, but it was too late. Johnny had drowned, long after he got out of the swimming pool.

BREAKING NEWS:

The 35W bridge which crosses the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis just completely collapsed in both directions.  Multiple cars are in the water and a couple on fire.  Dozens if not hundreds of cars were on the bridge at the time.

This bridge is a major bridge which carries a lot of traffic in and out of the city especially during rush hours.  It has been under construction for the past several weeks.

I'll post updates as I hear them, but at this point nobody knows what caused the collapse. 

Having used this bridge on a daily basis, I am still in shock.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and families effected by this catastrophe.

Update:
Star Tribune coverage - so far 1 fatality due to drowning and approximately 25 critical and non-critical persons at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC). 

Minnesota Public Radio coverage

The bridge was undergoing construction for resurfacing and not for structural repairs.  (Minnesota Department of Transportation's (MNDOT) website.)

Update 2:
6 confirmed dead; 1 construction worker unaccounted for

A family center has been established at the Holiday Inn Metrodome located at Seven Corners (1600 Washington Ave.)

MNDOT has reported that the 35W bridge underwent inspections in 2005 and 2006 and nothing was found.  Repairs needed were only cosmetic and not structural.  Necessary structural repairs wouldn't need to be addressed until year 2020.

Update 3:
Fatality number has dropped to 4, but the number is expected to rise as recovery efforts continue for the next several days.

20 - 30 people are missing and 30 - 50 cars remain in the water.  At this point, they assume all survivors have been rescued.

You can watch a time-elapse video of the 35W bridge collapsing at CNN.

Update 4:
4 Confirmed Collapse Victims Identified (WCCO)
Continuing coverage of collapse (MPR)

The Lovers of Teruel (Los amantes de Teruel) is a tragic love story that allegedly took place in 1217 in the small Spanish town of Teruel. 

The story goes like this: