1 child found dead in Passaic River search, officials say

One child was found dead Wednesday night after going missing in the Passaic River in New Jersey, officials say.

The body of a 10-year-old boy was found just after 10 p.m., Passaic Mayor Hector Lora said.

A 10-year-old girl remained unaccounted for as of early Thursday morning. First responders and community members continued to look for the child on land overnight and resumed searching in the river at 9 a.m.

According to the mayor, a total of three children – the two 10-year-olds, and the boy's older sister, believed to be 11 or 12 years old – went into the water near Pulaski Park just before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

"As of right now, what we have are indications that they were near the riverbank by the ramp, and they ended up in the water. Within seconds of being in the water, they were identified by children from across the river who called 911 immediately," Lora said.

More than two dozen marine units from multiple agencies converged on the scene within minutes, officials say.

Lora says a good Samaritan jumped into the water to try to help them, but was unable to reach the children due to the depth of the water and the current.

The boy's sister was able to get out of the river on her own and returned to the park, the mayor says. She was reunited with her parents and is expected to be OK.

"In conversing with her, her account, the little boy may have saved her life. As he was going under, he pushed her and she ended up by the rocks, and she climbed out," Lora said.

The boy's body was later found about 30 feet out and 50 feet away from the location where the children entered the water, the mayor said.

First responders from multiple cities continued to work into the night to locate the missing girl, utilizing boats and drones, officials say.

According to Lora, the river's water level is higher than usual due to Tuesday's storms.