Woman's body recovered from Delaware River after she jumped in to save young girl: "Priscila died a hero"
Emergency crews have recovered the body of a New Jersey woman who went missing in the Delaware River after trying to rescue a girl who was struggling in the water.
Recovery efforts wrapped up in Delran, New Jersey, Tuesday morning after officials said they recovered the body of 33-year-old Priscila Alvares Pereira Dos Santos.
Investigators said Dos Santos went into the river near Amico Island Park at 81 Norman Ave., shortly before 4 p.m. Monday, to help a girl who was struggling in the water.
Dos Santos was able to push that girl toward the shore, and bystanders pulled her out, officials said. But Dos Santos then went under and never resurfaced.
On Tuesday, officials confirmed Dos Santos was located around 8:15 a.m., about 20 feet from a beach at the park.
The search area had focused around the mouth of the Rancocas Creek, where it meets the Delaware River.
Police said swimming is prohibited in the area, pointing to signs in the park. The chief said the current is strong and flows in different directions.
"At the time when the reports came in that she was submerged, the tide was moving out," Kevin Peak, deputy chief of the Delran Fire Department, said. "We've heard all the stories about the ocean swimmers who get pulled by the undertow. River current is almost the exact same thing. It will pull you right under. If you're not a strong swimmer or a good swimmer, it's not going to fare very well for anyone involved."
Delran's police chief called Dos Santos a hero.
"Priscila died a hero. She saved a little girl," Delran Chief of Police Matt Gasper said. "She saw a young girl in the river, in distress, calling for help. And she went in there and sacrificed herself and saved that young child."
The search for the missing woman included the Delran police and fire departments, the Delran Emergency Squad, New Jersey State Police, Camden County dive team and the Philadelphia Police Department.
Amico Island Park was closed Tuesday as the investigation continues.
