A 7-year-old child drowned in Michigan’s Flint River last weekend, and authorities are searching for a second child who was presumed dead after falling into the river the next day.
Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson told USA TODAY that the first child, a 7-year-old boy with special needs, wandered off and drowned in the Flint River on Saturday.
The next day, the 6-year-old girl wandered off and was found in the river, a sheriff confirmed to USA TODAY Wednesday afternoon. The sheriff’s office had previously released the girl’s incorrect age.
“There have been consecutive child drownings within 24 hours of each other in the same river in two different parts of the city, both resulting in fatalities,” Swanson told USA TODAY.
Flint Fire Chief Theron Wiggins said in a statement provided to USA TODAY that he was “deeply saddened” by the death of the 7-year-old in the Flint River on Saturday.
“We want to remind our community that playing near the Flint River is dangerous due to hidden debris and strong currents,” Wiggins said. “As the weather warms, we encourage families to safely enjoy Flint’s natural resources and parks.”
6-year-old and another child slip into river: sheriff
Swanson said a 6-year-old girl was with a 9-year-old boy on Sunday around 5:15 p.m. when the two left the home and wandered around.
“There’s a cement embankment that goes into the river at a 40-degree angle,” he says. “They probably fell 30 feet into the river. Well, they slipped down a cement embankment and fell into the river. The 9-year-old was able to climb out, and the 6-year-old This is the child we are looking for.” “
When authorities found the girl, the river was flowing 5 to 8 miles per hour and appeared to be “very murky.” By the time search teams were sent into the river, she was underwater, and it was clear to authorities that the incident was a recovery, not a rescue.
“Since then, we have deployed between 75 and 100 staff and volunteers per day,” he said. “We have a dive team group that is made up of southeastern Michigan counties…about 14 counties that bring us the best technology that we possibly have. By closing the dam, we lowered the river level by 18 inches.”
He said the crew was waiting to see if she would surface.
“The problem with this river is that it’s very dangerous and full of hazardous materials and trees,” Swanson said in a video posted to Facebook on Monday.
He said the river contained water flowing under its banks, creating a path for the bodies to be laid to rest. He said the fact that there is moving water also makes things difficult. He noted that while the water didn’t look dangerous when he shot the video, the undertow was still present and posed a threat.
“One of our sergeants actually saw the victim yesterday from a distance in a little pink shirt, so we knew this was a starting point,” he said in a video Monday.
The same crew responded to both incidents, Swanson told USA TODAY. The sheriff said two drownings over the weekend were a “heavy burden” for everyone involved.
“Hug your family,” he said. “Please love your family.”
Saleen Martin is a reporter for USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – 757. Follow her on Twitter.@SaleenMartin or email hersdmartin@usatoday.com.
