Heroic 10-Year-Old Dies Saving Sister in Passaic River
Search continues for a missing girl after three children were swept into dangerous, rain-swollen water near Pulaski Park
A Passaic River tragedy has left one 10-year-old boy dead, his 11-year-old sister alive and another 10-year-old girl missing. Officials said the boy may have saved his sister by helping her reach rocks near the riverbank as all three children struggled against fast-moving water Wednesday evening in Passaic, New Jersey.
Crews continued searching Friday for the missing girl, expanding a recovery operation that has involved divers, boats, drones and sonar equipment. Her name and the names of the other children had not been publicly released as of Friday morning.
The tragedy has devastated two families and raised urgent questions about safety near rivers after severe storms.
Three Children Entered the Passaic River
Emergency crews received reports at about 6:20 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, that three children were in the Passaic River near Pulaski Park.
Authorities have not determined exactly how the children entered the river. Early reports said they were playing near the water when they were caught in a strong current. Officials said the river was higher and moving faster than usual following heavy rainfall across northern New Jersey.
Passaic Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost said the children “quickly slipped deeper due to the fast current and high water level,” according to The Associated Press.
The children included:
- A 10-year-old boy
- The boy’s 11-year-old sister
- A 10-year-old girl who was their friend
The surviving girl managed to reach rocks and climb out of the water. The two other children disappeared beneath the surface.
Boy May Have Saved His Sister
Passaic Mayor Hector Lora said the survivor’s account suggested her younger brother helped her reach safety before he went under.
“He put his hand on her head, trying to get up above the water, and he may have inadvertently saved her life without even knowing,” Lora told reporters.
In another account of the mayor’s remarks, Lora said the boy pushed his sister toward rocks, allowing her to climb out of the river.
The boy’s body was recovered shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday, about three hours after the emergency calls began. Officials said he was found approximately 50 feet from the area where the children entered the water.
His sister was reunited with her mother after escaping. Officials said she was deeply worried about both her brother and her missing friend.
Lora urged the public to support the affected families.
“I ask that you continue to pray for the families and to hold them up in your thoughts because they are in need of your support,” the mayor said.
Bystander Tried to Reach the Children
Before first responders arrived, a man at the park entered the river and tried to rescue the children.
Lora said the man went approximately 16 feet into the water before the depth and current forced him back.
“He went in about 5 meters deep, and when he got too deep and the current was pushing him away, he could not reach them,” Lora said. “The gentleman expressed to us his obvious pain and hurt.”
The man’s unsuccessful effort shows how dangerous flood-swollen rivers can become. Even a strong adult can quickly lose balance or be carried away.
Authorities generally urge bystanders not to enter fast-moving water during a rescue attempt. Calling 911, keeping the person in sight and throwing a flotation device from shore can reduce the risk of a second person becoming a victim.
Search for Missing Girl Continues
More than a dozen marine units responded Wednesday night, according to reports. The operation included agencies from across the region.
Crews used:
- Rescue and police boats
- Trained divers
- Aerial drones
- Sonar equipment
- Shoreline search teams
The search continued through darkness Wednesday and resumed Thursday. Boats were expected to return Friday as authorities expanded the area being examined along the river.
Trentacost described the effort as a recovery operation and said crews would continue “as long as necessary.”
Loved ones and community members gathered along the river Thursday as the search continued. The missing child was reported to be from nearby Garfield, New Jersey.
As of Friday morning, authorities had not announced that she had been found.
Heavy Rain Made the River More Dangerous
The Passaic River was already elevated because of heavy storms that struck the region Tuesday.
Authorities in neighboring Paterson warned that the river remained high and that flooded roads and fast-moving water continued to present a danger. Flooding elsewhere in Paterson required firefighters to rescue about 20 people who became trapped by rapidly rising water.
High water can make familiar riverbanks look safer than they are. It can also cover rocks, holes, steep drop-offs and other underwater hazards.
Why fast-moving water is so dangerous
Fast-moving rivers become especially dangerous because:
- The riverbed may drop suddenly. A child can move from shallow water into water over their head within seconds.
- Currents are stronger after storms. Rising water moves with greater speed and force.
- The water can be cloudy. Mud and debris may hide the bottom and make it difficult to locate a person.
- Wet rocks are slippery. A person trying to climb out may be unable to hold on.
- Debris may be moving below the surface. Branches and other objects can strike or trap a swimmer.
A river does not have to look violent to be deadly. The strongest current may be below the surface and difficult to see from shore.
Questions About Park and River Safety
The circumstances of the incident remain under investigation. Authorities have not said whether the children intentionally entered the water, slipped from the riverbank or were standing in an area that unexpectedly became deeper.
Those unanswered questions matter.
Community members may reasonably ask whether additional fencing, warning signs, rescue equipment or public education could reduce future risks near the park. At the same time, officials will need to study the site and determine what measures would be effective before assigning blame or recommending major changes.
One witness told local media that the area frequently floods and questioned whether stronger barriers should be installed. That concern deserves review, but investigators have not determined that the absence of a barrier caused the children to enter the water.
A responsible safety review could examine:
- Access points near the river
- Existing warning signs and fencing
- Lighting near the shoreline
- Placement of life rings or rescue ropes
- Flood-related park closures
- Emergency response times
- Water-safety education for nearby families
The goal should not be to use a family’s tragedy for political arguments. It should be to find practical steps that could prevent another death.
What Parents Should Tell Children
Children should be taught that rivers can change rapidly after a storm, even when rain has stopped.
Parents and caregivers can remind children to:
- Stay away from riverbanks during and after heavy rain
- Never enter a river without adult supervision
- Avoid climbing on wet rocks near moving water
- Never attempt to rescue another person by jumping into a current
- Call 911 immediately when someone is in trouble
- Throw a flotation device or long object from a safe location
Adults should also take flood warnings seriously. Parks, trails and fishing areas near water may remain hazardous for hours or days after a storm passes.
A Community Waits and Grieves
The story of a 10-year-old boy apparently helping his sister reach safety has touched people far beyond Passaic. His final actions reflect the powerful bond between siblings, but they also came during a terrifying emergency no child should have faced.
One family is grieving the death of a son. Another is waiting for news about a missing daughter. A surviving child must live with memories that few adults could easily process.
Authorities and mental health professionals should ensure that the survivor, relatives, witnesses and first responders receive meaningful support in the days ahead.
The public can help by respecting the families’ privacy, avoiding rumors and relying on confirmed updates from authorities and established news organizations. The children’s names should not be circulated unless officials or their families choose to release them.
The search for the missing girl continues, and the community’s attention must remain focused on her family and the crews working in difficult conditions.
This tragedy should also serve as a warning for every community with rivers, creeks and drainage channels. Following heavy rain, keep children away from rising water. A familiar river can become deadly with little warning.
