Boy drowns, sister rescued, girl missing in Passaic River

A 10-year-old boy drowned and a 10-year-old girl remained missing on Thursday, July 30, after the two children were swept away in the rain-swollen Passaic River in Passaic, New Jersey. A third child, the boy's 11-year-old sister, survived after being pushed to safety by her brother as he was pulled under by the current.

The incident occurred on Wednesday evening near Pulaski Park. Authorities received emergency calls around 6:20 p.m. reporting that three children were in the river. According to Passaic Mayor Hector Lora, a man in the park attempted a rescue, entering the water and going about five meters deep before the strong current pushed him away, preventing him from reaching the children.

The 11-year-old girl managed to climb out of the river near some rocks and was later reunited with her parents. Mayor Lora, recounting the girl's statement, said the boy may have saved his sister's life. "As he was going under, he pushed her and she ended up by the rocks, and she climbed out," Lora told reporters.

The boy's body was recovered from the river near a bridge connecting Passaic and Garfield around 10 p.m. Wednesday. He has not been publicly identified. The search for the missing...