Recovery efforts underway after girl, 6, fell into Chester Creek
CHESTER, Pa. - Recovery efforts continued Monday for a Pennsylvania 6-year-old who authorities say fell into an overflowing creek while playing on the bank with two other children.
Crews shifted their focus on Sunday from a rescue mission to a recovery effort after there were no signs of the Lin’ajah Brooker hours after she fell into Chester Creek.
Authorities say Brooker was playing on the creek bank with two other children when two of them fell into Chester Creek near West 6th Street on Saturday evening.
The creek, according to authorities, was running high and rapidly after a deluge of rain drenched the region from Friday night into Saturday afternoon.
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One of the children managed to escape the water, but authorities say Brooker never reemerged.
Search crews estimated that based on where Brooker fell into the rushing creek, it would have taken less than 10 minutes to reach the mouth of the Delaware River.
Their search area stretched from where Brooker fell into the creek downstream into the Delaware River, and included boats, drones and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter.
Search crews continue to look for 6-year-old Lin’ajah Brooker, who fell into an overflowing river in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Chester Fire Department Captain John-Paul Shirley said the expansive search area, paired with rapid currents and storm debris, has made their search difficult.
It's believed the children may have gained access to the creek bank by passing through a gap in a chain link fence surrounding a community playground.
Mayor Stefan Roots vowed Sunday to close the fence gap and urged parents to "keep an eye on your children."
"Know where your children are, make sure they’re coming in before dark, especially if they are young, but for the most part, let your children out to play," Root said.