Body recovered of teen who tried to save her little brother in S. Dakota river

Rescuers search the Big Sioux River for two adults who went underwater after rescuing a boy who had fallen into the strong current, authorities said, on March 14, 2013, in Sioux Falls, S.D. / AP Photo/The Argus Leader

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. Crews have recovered the body of a teenager who drowned in Sioux Falls after trying to save her 6-year-old brother from an icy river.

Sioux Falls Fire Chief Jim Sideras says 16-year-old Madison Leigh Wallace's body was found Friday afternoon.

Wallace jumped into the Big Sioux River at Falls Park on Thursday night after her 6-year-old brother either fell into the frothing water or became obscured by the gathering foam. Sideras has said Garrett Martin Wallace was not injured.

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The body of a Sioux Falls man who jumped in to help, 28-year-old Lyle Francis Eagletail, has not been recovered.

Emergency crews continued searching the Big Sioux River at Falls Park, although their focus changed overnight from rescue to recovery, said Sioux Falls Fire Chief Jim Sideras.

Garrett Martin Wallace, of Vermillion, was climbing on rocks Thursday evening when he either fell into the frothing water or became obscured by the gathering foam that towered over him, said Police Chief Doug Barthel.

"It's hard to say if he actually ended up in the water or not," Barthel said.

The boy's sister, Madison Leigh Wallace, jumped into the river to save him but was swept away. Lyle Francis Eagletail, 28, of Sioux Falls, jumped in to help the two but he also disappeared into the freezing water, Barthel said.

Witness accounts differ on whether someone pushed the boy out of the water or he popped up on a rock before being pulled ashore. Emergency workers carried the boy away from the river wrapped in a blanket and he was not injured, Sideras said.

"He wasn't in that long," he said.

A witness to the tragedy, Napoleon Ducheneaux, 21, said his friend, Eagletail, fell into the river while trying to help the others. Eagletail was holding onto the girl and boy by their hands before his hands began sliding, then he just "slipped and disappeared," Ducheneaux told The Associated Press late Thursday.

"These people literally jumped in without thinking of their own safety and trying to rescue that child," Sideras said. "It's a very noble act that they did, and they probably contributed to saving that boy's life."

Nevertheless, the fire chief said the optimum way to help someone who falls into water is to stay on the shore and mark where that person went in.

Sideras said rescue crews have been working against the river's strong current, a thick sheet of ice that firefighters are trying to break into pieces, and large amounts of foam, which firefighters were blowing away with water hoses.

The water temperature hovered around freezing, putting emergency crews at risk of hypothermia.

The city of Sioux Falls is named after the Big Sioux River's cascading waterfalls in Falls Park, a tourist attraction where people often picnic or pose for wedding photos.

It's a popular spot in the summer and spring, drawing about 525,000 visitors annually, according the local visitors' bureau. For the first time in months, the temperature rose to around 50 degrees in Sioux Falls on Thursday.

The park was closed Friday as crews continued their recovery effort.

Fatal accidents are rare at Falls Park.

In 2006, the body of 29-year-old Travis Hallan was found just north of the falls after his canoe tipped over. In 1999, 26-year-old Slavisa Andric drowned after losing his footing on rocks at Falls Park. A bystander in 1997 pulled the body of 43-year-old Omar Iasi Ibrahim Warsame from the water below a bridge where he had been fishing.

Barthel said the city could perhaps prevent accidents by fencing off the entire area, but there's some inherent danger with a fast-moving river meandering through the city.

"The Falls is the crown jewel of our city," Barthel said. "I don't think we want to get to a position where we're going to be totally fencing it off."

[michealeolivieri]

to anyone who wouldnt jump into the river t save their drowning 5 year old child i say you shouldnt be a parent. you do not deserve kids if you would save your own skin and a few more years of life cause they made a "disappointing choice". and the heros who died trying to save that poor little guy deserve to be remembered with respect and honor because they did what needed doing. that girl gave her life so her brother could live. god says greater love hath no man but that he should lay down his life for another.

[Paroquet]

Never been one to give favor to drowning victims. Even rescuers who knew better, and did it anyway. Props for trying though. At least this time it wasn't a dog.

I'm well-on 20yrs of leading annual youth canoe trips to a river that will eat you without compunction. Ain't lost anyone yet. Why? Common sense, education, proper safety, and supervision.

Result? A lot of kids know how to respect the water, handle themselves, and know enough to not put themselves in danger, but when manure happens, they've a clue about how to not make bad worse.

[Hehiker]

too bad god, or jesus, or allah, or any one of our invented gods weren't there to help that little boy,, at least his sister cared enough to try,, more than i can say for the great hoo doos.

[angelosdaughter]

What a shame there are such unfeeling people in the world. Two people bravely jumped into a raging river to try to save a little boy and lost their lives. They were heroes and a great loss to their families. Such people are also a loss to the human race because we have too many like the callous commenters above who think the loss of these peoples' lives is an occasion for ignorant and misplaced attempts at humor. Ms. Wallace and Mr. Eagletail are worthy of respect and sorrow at their manner of passing. Both were young and should have had years of life ahead of them, but they gave it up without a thought to try to save a child. Condolences to the families. May God receive their noble souls.

[PMac13]

Angelosdaughter - Don't let the negatives bring you down. They are vocal, and they are cowards, and they are truly miserable. You do you because life is dealing with them.

[LindaB193]

TM101DOTCOM, please don't comment on situations you know nothing about. The kids were with other family members having a picnic in the park. Like ALL (yours included) children they wander off. Yes, the adults should have been more vigilante but I'm willing to bet they are heart-broken. Falls Park is a beautiful park but the Falls are like magnets to people and even though it is posted all over to stay off the rocks, it does happen. It is a tragic accident and placing blame on anyone is not necessary. Please consider giving your child up for adoption as a person with your views on life and your unwillingness to save your child from danger, really scares me.