A 10-year-old boy has drowned in the Passaic River in New Jersey while saving his 11-year-old sister, and the body of his 10-year-old friend, who was also swept away, was recovered two days later. The incident occurred Wednesday evening when the three children were playing near a boat ramp at Dundee Island Park in Passaic.
Michael Klenk, 10, was identified as the boy who drowned. He helped his sister, Hope Klenk, reach rocks and climb out of the rain-swollen river before he was carried away by the current. His body was found approximately 50 feet from the boat ramp shortly after 10 p.m. that evening.
The third child, Milian Dula, 10, was missing for several days. A large-scale search involving boats, divers, drones, sonar, and cadaver dogs covered nearly nine miles of the river. On Friday evening, shortly before search efforts were set to be suspended, a couple in a nearby apartment spotted something in the water and alerted authorities. Milian's body was recovered near the Market Street Bridge about 100 feet from where she disappeared.
Passaic Mayor Hector Lora stated that the current could have carried Milian's body further downstream had the couple not raised the alarm. Milian's mother was brought to the recovery site and was able to see her daughter. Garfield Mayor Everett Garnto Jr. shared that Milian's mother said her daughter looked as she did when she left home, offering a small measure of peace to the grieving family. A rainbow was observed above the scene as Milian's mother waited, despite no rain in the immediate area, which Lora noted brought comfort.
Children on the opposite side of the river witnessed the incident and called 911. A man attempted to enter the river to help but was forced back by the strong current and depth. Hope Klenk recounted that her brother Michael's actions likely aided her survival. Mayor Lora indicated that Michael pushed Hope toward rocks as he went under, and Passaic officials believe Michael may have inadvertently saved her by placing a hand on her head while struggling in the water, allowing Hope to feel rocks and climb to safety.
Heavy rainfall had significantly increased the river's water levels and current speed at the time of the incident. Hackensack Riverkeeper executive director Bill Sheehan noted that the sloping concrete boat ramp can appear safe but drops suddenly into deep water and thick mud. Investigators have not determined the exact sequence of events that led to the children entering the river. Milian, Michael, and Hope all attended School Number 6 in Garfield, New Jersey. The families of the children have thanked the community for its support and requested privacy during their mourning.