CHESTER, Pa. — The search for a 6-year-old girl who was swept away in a rain-swollen southeastern Pennsylvania creek has become a recovery mission rather than a rescue mission, authorities said Sunday.
Authorities in Chester County said the child was reported missing at about 7 p.m. Saturday after she slipped and fell into fast-moving Chester Creek. Several fire companies took part in a search for the next 3 1/2 hours while the Coast Guard continued searching through the night.
County fire commissioner John Shirley said the search moved into a recovery mode Sunday, adding that modeling for such situations showed a survivability period of about three hours.
He said rescuers were always “looking for that miracle” but after dawn and the opportunity to do a more thorough search, they knew “it wasn’t going to be a rescue, it was going to be a recovery.”
Boats and drones were used Sunday in both directions on the creek and on both sides of the Delaware River where the creek flows into it. Shirley said that given the swift-moving current following Saturday’s heavy rains, the child probably would have been at the river mouth within nine minutes — before the rescue effort was fully operational.
“She might have already been in the Delaware when we were just getting on scene,” he said.
Chester Mayor Stefan Roots said it was unclear how the girl and her friends came to be at the creek, but they were down at the bank beside the water “at the very wrong time.” He called on governments to assure safe places for children to play, and on people to make sure they know where youngsters are playing.
Chester is a city about 18 miles (30 kilometers) southwest of downtown Philadelphia on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River.
Recovery efforts are currently underway for a 6-year-old girl who fell into a rain-swollen creek in a tragic accident that has left the community in shock. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when the young girl was playing near the creek with her siblings and lost her footing, falling into the fast-moving water.
Emergency services were immediately called to the scene, and a search and rescue operation was launched to locate the missing child. Despite the efforts of first responders and volunteers, the girl has yet to be found, and hopes of a successful recovery are fading as time passes.
The creek, which had been swollen by heavy rainfall in the area, presented dangerous conditions for search teams, with swift currents and debris making the search effort challenging. Divers have been deployed to search underwater, while drones and helicopters have been used to survey the area from above.
Local authorities have urged residents to stay away from the creek and to exercise caution around bodies of water during periods of heavy rain. They have also asked for the community’s support in the search effort, encouraging anyone with information or leads to come forward.
The incident serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers posed by fast-moving water and the importance of water safety education, especially for young children. It also highlights the incredible bravery and dedication of emergency responders who put their lives on the line to save others in times of crisis.
As the search for the missing girl continues, the community has come together in solidarity, offering prayers and support for her family during this difficult time. While the outcome remains uncertain, the efforts of all involved in the recovery operation are a testament to the unwavering commitment to bringing closure to this heartbreaking situation.
