The heavy rain and flooding that struck New Jersey in recent days left behind flooded streets, damaged homes, and significant property losses. Yet no amount of material damage can compare to the tragedy that unfolded in Passaic—a heartbreaking event that reminded an entire community that nothing is more precious than life and the love shared between family members. What began as an ordinary children’s outing near the river turned into a tragedy that deeply shook the community.
PASSAIC, NJ – On Wednesday evening, three children ended up in the swollen Passaic River, where the water level had risen well above normal following days of heavy rainfall, and the powerful current made it nearly impossible to reach safety. Within minutes, authorities launched a large-scale rescue operation involving dive teams, rescue boats, drones, and numerous emergency responders.
Despite their efforts, a 10-year-old boy lost his life.
His 11-year-old sister survived. According to Passaic Mayor Hector Lora, who shared the girl’s account of what happened, the boy, as he was being carried away by the powerful current, pushed his sister toward rocks along the riverbank, allowing her to climb out of the water.
“As he was going under, he pushed her, and she ended up on the rocks and climbed out,” Mayor Lora told reporters. “She’s alive today.”
Because of that account, many residents of Passaic have come to see this tragedy as a story of selfless brotherly love and extraordinary courage.
Divers recovered the boy’s body at around 10 p.m. Wednesday night. The search for his 10-year-old friend continued the following day with the help of rescue boats, sonar equipment, and drones. As time passed, authorities transitioned the rescue effort into a recovery operation.
The tragedy is another painful reminder of how dangerous swollen rivers can become after major flooding. Water that appears calm on the surface often hides extremely powerful currents that even adults struggle to overcome.
The Passaic River stretches for about 80 miles (130 kilometers). It begins in northern New Jersey, flows through numerous communities, and empties into Newark Bay. The City of Passaic is located about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of New York City.
The accident occurred during a powerful storm system that swept across the northeastern United States, causing widespread flooding throughout the region.
The Passaic community continues to wait for news about the missing 10-year-old girl while mourning the loss of the young boy whose final instinct, according to his sister’s account shared by the mayor, was to help her.
Sources: ABC7 New York, ABC News, 6abc Philadelphia, Fox News, X (@CrimeTalkNet).
[…] The incident occurred on Wednesday, July 29, at approximately 6:21 p.m., near the boat ramp by Dundee Island Park. According to Mayor Lora, the ramp was submerged due to high water, creating the illusion that it extended much farther than it actually did. The three children were standing on the ramp together when they suddenly fell into the river. […]