Boy dies rescuing sister in Passaic River as search continues for missing friend

Around 6:20 p.m. on Wednesday, three pre-teens - a 10-year-old boy, his 11-year-old sister and a 10-year-old friend - waded into the Passaic River near Pulaski Park in Passaic, New Jersey. The boy encountered difficulty and was recovered dead three hours later about 50 feet from where they entered, Mayor Hector Lora said. The sister managed to climb out onto rocks and was later reunited with her parents, indicating the boy pushed her toward safety as he went under.

The friend remains unaccounted for; a passerby who jumped in could not overcome the river’s strong currents. The Passaic Fire Department leads the ongoing search, assisted by boats and scuba teams from the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, while high water from recent storms hampers efforts. Local police had warned earlier that the river was flooding and dangerous.