A 10-year-old boy was recovered dead from the Passaic River late on July 29, about 50 feet from where he and two other children entered the water at Pulaski Park. The boy's sister, believed to be 11 or 12, survived after climbing onto rocks, but a 10-year-old girl who was with them remains missing and search teams continued into the night. Officials said heavy rainfall had raised river levels and strong currents made rescue efforts dangerous; authorities warned the public to avoid flooded areas.
Passaic River Tragedy: 10-Year-Old Boy Found Dead; Overnight Search Continues for Missing Girl
Crews searching the Passaic River in New JerseyCredit: Eyewitness News ABC7NY/Youtube
A 10-year-old boy was found dead in New Jersey's Passaic River late on Wednesday, July 29, and divers and marine teams continued searching overnight for a 10-year-old girl who remains missing, officials said.
Passaic City Mayor Hector C. Lora confirmed the boy's body was recovered just before 11 p.m., roughly 50 feet from where the children entered the water at Pulaski Park shortly before 6:30 p.m. The group consisted of a 10-year-old boy, a 10-year-old girl and the boy's older sister, who is believed to be 11 or 12.
"His sister is alive, she is home. Conversing with her, her account, the little boy may have saved her life as he was going under," Mayor Lora told reporters. "He pushed her and she ended up on the rocks and she climbed out. She is alive right now."
The sister did survive and was reunited with her mother, according to officials. Mayor Lora said she emerged at a different spot along the bank, climbed onto rocks and made her way to safety. The missing 10-year-old girl is believed to be a friend of the siblings; search teams continued to comb the river and shoreline into the night.
The Passaic River in New JerseyCredit: Alamy
Responders described hazardous conditions: a bystander who tried to jump into the water to help was forced back by the deep water and strong current. The Paterson Police Department warned on Facebook that the Passaic River remained high following heavy rainfall earlier in the day, and that flooded roadways and fast-moving water presented ongoing dangers.
More than a dozen marine units from multiple agencies arrived within minutes, deploying boats and sending divers into the water as darkness fell. Officials said the effort shifted from an immediate rescue to a recovery operation as time elapsed and conditions remained precarious.
Authorities urged the public to avoid flooded areas and warned that even seemingly shallow water can be deadly when currents are strong. PEOPLE reported the outlet reached out to the Paterson Police Department and the Passaic Fire Department for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
What officials have asked members of the public: stay away from fast-moving water, avoid entering the river, and report any sightings or information to local authorities to assist the ongoing search.
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