CHESTER, Pa. - Rescue crews in Delaware County continued their search Sunday for a six-year-old girl who is believed to have fallen into Chester Creek as it overflowed early Saturday evening.
First responders were called to Holy City Park near West 6th Street just after 7 p.m. after receiving 911 calls about a child that had fallen into the water.
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Rescue crews searching for 6-year-old girl who fell in Chester Creek
Rescue crews are desperately looking for a 6-year-old girl they say fell into an overflowing Chester Creek.
According to Chester officials, the initial report from police was that two girls were playing, and one friend witnessed the other friend slip on the mud and go into the water.
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Emergency crews rushed to the scene and began searching the banks of the creek, before additional rescue resources, including boats and U.S. Coast Guard helicopters, arrived a short time later.
Crews continued their search of the creek and the Delaware River late into Saturday evening as they worked through rapid currents and debris from Saturday’s rain and flooding.
Search crews resumed their efforts early Sunday morning. Chester officials say their mission went from rescue to recovery after several hours of searching due to the conditions.
Chester Fire Department Captain John-Paul Shirley says crews have been searching an expansive area due to how swiftly the water was moving at the time the young girl is believed to have fallen in. He says the size of the search area has proven to be a challenge.