Authorities in Chester County, Pennsylvania, have shifted their efforts from a rescue mission to a recovery mission in the search for a 6-year-old girl who was swept away in a rain-swollen creek. The child was reported missing on Saturday evening after falling into the fast-moving Chester Creek. Despite a 3 1/2-hour search involving multiple fire companies and ongoing efforts by the Coast Guard, the girl has not been located.
County fire commissioner John Shirley indicated that the search transitioned to a recovery mode on Sunday, as the survivability period for such situations is typically limited to about three hours. While hoping for a miracle, rescuers recognized the grim reality as daylight allowed for a more thorough search effort.
Boats and drones were deployed on Sunday to search both directions of the creek and along the Delaware River, where the creek empties. Shirley noted that due to the swift current following heavy rains, the girl may have reached the river mouth within minutes of the incident.
Chester Mayor Stefan Roots expressed uncertainty about the circumstances that led the girl and her friends to the creek, emphasizing the importance of providing safe play areas for children. He urged the community to be vigilant about children's whereabouts while playing.
Chester, located southwest of Philadelphia on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, is now at the center of a recovery operation as authorities continue their efforts to locate the missing child.
