Update: 10-year-old Franklin County boy dies in accidental hanging

KSDK -- Authorities in Franklin County now say that 10-year-old Seth Williams died Friday after he accidentally choked himself on a make-shift rope swing.

According to Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke, the incident occurred in the 900 block of Pickles Ford Road near St. Clair, Missouri.

The boy had gone out to ride his bike and was found around 5:26pm Friday by cheerleaders from St. Clair High School. They saw the young boy hanging from the rope and saw that he was unresponsive. The child's mother heard the commotion and ran outside after hearing calls for help. When emergency crews arrived they transported Williams to St. John's Hospital in Washington where he later died.

Police believe the boy had made the make-shift rope swing from the tree limb and was swinging by putting his chin through the loop and then holding the loop with his hands. It is believed that at one point the position of the rope and his hands cut off his circulation causing him to pass out. The rope was placed high enough that he was unable to get his footing.

While the situation appears to be a horrible accident, Toelke said the incident remains under investigation.