Officials search for 8-year-old girl who fell in same river 7-year-old boy drowned in the day before

FLINT, Mich. (WNEM/Gray News) - Officials are searching the Flint River in Michigan for an 8-year-old girl who went missing after she fell into it Sunday.

The day before, dive teams recovered the body of a 7-year-old boy who had drowned in the river, according to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said the boy wandered away near the river on Saturday and drowned, turning the rescue mission into a recovery.

Officials said the girl has not yet been located after she fell into the river near McLaren Hospital in Flint.

Authorities are searching using all resources available, including divers, K9s, boats, drones and a helicopter to find her.

The search started around the area near McLaren Flint Hospital before extending 22 miles beyond.

The search has also been impacted by rainy weather impacting the river flows and water levels, officials said. Using a sonar was also determined not to be a reliable method as the river water is constantly moving, unlike a pond or lake.

The sheriff’s office said the recovery efforts could take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks to find the girl, but they would not stop until she was located.

Anyone who sees anything unusual in the river is asked to contact authorities. The 8-year-old girl was reportedly wearing a pink shirt when she fell in.

Flint’s fire chief, Theron Wiggins, said he wants anyone who decides to help to be aware of their surroundings.

“I am deeply saddened by the death of a precious 7-year-old child who tragically drowned in the Flint River yesterday,” he said in a statement. “In a separate incident, an 8-year-old child fell into the Flint River today, and the search and recovery effort is ongoing. I want to remind our community that playing near the Flint River is dangerous due to hidden debris and strong currents. As the weather warms, I encourage families to be safe while enjoying the natural resources and parks in Flint.”

Flint’s mayor said his thoughts and prayers are with the families of the children.

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