Massachusetts boy, 11, dies after being pulled out of freezing river, search on for 10-year-old missing cousin
CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS: An 11-year-old boy died after being pulled out of a freezing river while his 10-year-old cousin is still missing after the pair went to play in the woods on Saturday, December 28.
The boys, whose names were not released, are believed to have wandered into the woods on Saturday morning and subsequently wandered onto the unstable ice covering the Chicopee River before losing their balance and falling in.
"It is believed the boys made their way to the Chicopee River, where they ventured out on to the ice," James Leydon, a spokesman for District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, told MassLive.
Multiple public safety agencies launched a "significant search and rescue operation" after the siblings did not turn up. The 11-year-old was recovered from the river on Saturday evening and rushed to the Baystate Medical Center.
He was then airlifted to Boston Children's Hospital, where he later died. The search is still on for his 10-year-old cousin, although extreme weather conditions are not making the search and rescue mission any easier.
The search was suspended on Saturday evening as it was unsafe for divers to stay underwater after dark. Although the search was resumed in the following days, it was suspended once again on Monday due to unfavorable weather conditions.
"Emergency crews were back on scene to search today but have since cleared due to hazardous weather conditions. There are no further updates on this ongoing situation," Officer Michael Wilk of Chicopee Police Department wrote on their Facebook page.
He added, "Please, keep the families in your thoughts and prayers. And, thank you for all the offers to assist and for wanting to bring items. It’s deeply appreciated."
Apart from the Chicopee Police and Fire departments, some of the other agencies aiding with the rescue mission are Massachusetts State Police, South Hadley Fire Department, Hampden Sheriff's Department and Environmental State Police.
While three boats searched the surface, divers combed the waters for any signs of the second boy. K9 units were also deployed to search through the wooded area, while drones and a helicopter from the State Police Airwing searched overhead.
Authorities have asked the public to stay away from the area to avoid hampering search efforts.