A tragic water accident in New Jersey has left one child dead and another still missing after three children were swept into the Passaic River on Wednesday evening.
According to Passaic Mayor Hector Lora, the incident happened near the Dundee Island Park boat launch, where three young children ended up in the water. An 11-year-old girl managed to escape safely, but two 10-year-olds — a boy and a girl — were pulled under by the current. The boy was the brother of the girl who survived, while the missing girl was described as a close friend of the siblings.
Emergency crews searched the river for several hours before recovering the boy’s body around 11 p.m., roughly 50 feet from where he had gone under. Officials said his sister, who is now recovering at home, believes her brother may have pushed her toward safety in his final moments before he was pulled under himself.
Mayor Lora said the family is overwhelmed with grief and asked the community to rally behind them while search efforts continue. He confirmed that what began as a rescue operation has now shifted into a recovery effort, given the amount of time the girl has been missing.
Local fire and police units have been conducting an extensive water search using marine response teams. Authorities noted that the river’s water level remains unusually high following heavy rainfall earlier in the week, which has also caused flooding concerns in nearby low-lying areas.
At this time, officials have not confirmed exactly how the three children ended up in the river. No further information about the circumstances leading up to the incident has been released.
Search efforts are expected to continue as authorities work to locate the missing girl. Community members have been asked to respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time, as the town continues to mourn the loss of the young boy.