Boy, 11, dies after being pulled from freezing Massachusetts river as search continues for his 10-year-old cousin after pair went missing on Saturday
- The boys went to play in the Chicopee woods early Saturday and never returned
- They are believed to have fallen into the Chicopee River while walking on the ice
- Multiple public safety agencies launched a search and rescue operation
- The 11-year-old boy was pulled from the freezing water on Saturday evening and died in the hospital soon after
- Divers, boats crews and drones are still searching for the second boy
An 11-year-old boy has died and his 10-year-old cousin is still missing after the pair went to play in the woods in Massachusetts on Saturday and never returned.
The boys, who have not been named, wandered into the woods near Chicopee on Saturday morning. When the failed to come back, authorities launched a ‘significant search and rescue operation’ by multiple public safety agencies.
They are believed to have ventured onto the unstable ice covering the Chicopee River and fallen in.
The elder boy was pulled from the freezing water on Saturday evening and died in the hospital soon after.
Crews continued combing the river for the second boy on Sunday, but the search was suspended that evening as it was unsafe for divers to stay underwater after dark. Officials said they would resume the search on Monday morning despite poor weather conditions.
Rescue crews are seen combing the Chicopee River in Massachusetts on Sunday amid an extensive search for a 10-year-old boy who went missing on Saturday morning. The boy’s 11-year-old cousin was pulled from the freezing water that night and later died
The boys wandered into the woods near Chicopee on Saturday morning and never returned. They are believed to have ventured onto the unstable ice covering the Chicopee River and fallen in. Rescue boats are seen searching the river on Sunday
Family members reported the two boys missing at around 1pm Saturday after they went out to play in the woods behind Oxford Court.
‘It is believed the boys made their way to the Chicopee River, where they ventured out on to the ice,’ James Leydon, a spokesman for District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, told MassLive.
The search has been led by the Chicopee Police and Fire departments with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police, South Hadley Fire Department, Hampden Sheriff’s Department and Environmental State Police.
Chicopee and Massachusetts State Police dive teams spent Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday scanning the river for signs of the children while three boats searched the surface.
K9 units combed through the wooded area while drones and a helicopter from the State Police Airwing searched overhead.
The 11-year-old boy, who lived in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, was found in the river at about 7pm Saturday and was taken by ambulance to Baystate Medical Center. He was then airlifted to Boston Children’s Hospital, where he later died.
As the search for the second boy continues, authorities have asked the public to stay away from the area to avoid hampering search efforts.
‘Thank you all for your kindness and compassion and prayers for the families,’ Chicopee police spokesman Michael Wilk said.
The search has been led by the Chicopee Police and Fire departments with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police, South Hadley Fire Department, Hampden Sheriff’s Department and Environmental State Police
As the search for the second boy continues, authorities have asked the public to stay away from the area to avoid hampering search efforts