A recovery mission is underway for an 18-year-old man who went missing in the Niagara River after slipping from rocks while fishing with friends. Aung Hla, of Buffalo, disappeared Wednesday morning near Whirlpool Park stairs in a restricted section of the Niagara Gorge.
New York State Park Police received a report of a person in the water around 10:15 a.m. Witnesses described Hla falling into the swift current and being swept away by powerful rapids. The recent Kenmore West High School graduate was fishing with five friends at the time of the incident.
Following an exhaustive three-day search involving dozens of first responders, authorities announced Friday that the operation had shifted from rescue to recovery. Efforts included land, air, and water searches utilizing helicopters, boats, jet skis, and night-vision drones. The search area spanned from the gorge to the river's mouth at Lake Ontario.
Multiple agencies participated in the search, including New York State Park Police, New York State Police, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Border Patrol, Canadian Park Police, Erie and Niagara County aviation units, and the Niagara Falls Fire Department. Officials noted the deceptive nature of the gorge, highlighting its beauty and danger, particularly in restricted areas with washed-out trails that complicated search efforts.
Hla's father, Maung Hla, expressed lingering hope for his son's survival. The tragedy has deeply affected the Kenmore West High School community, where Aung Hla graduated just last month. The school has opened its Family Support Center to provide counseling for students, staff, and families coping with the news.