As an intensive search continues, a small Franklin County community is desperately holding onto hope for the safe return of a 7-year-old boy who fell into the Tar River last night. Officials report that the child went missing around 5:30 p.m. while playing near the river, which has been swollen due to recent rainfall and is in a minor flood stage. According to CBS17, dive teams, water rescuers, and an underwater drone have been deployed in the search effort, covering roughly 300 yards downstream from the point of disappearance.
Family members are relying on their faith during this harrowing time, with Shirbartis Alston, a cousin of the missing boy, expressing their collective hope to reporters. "All I can say is it's praying time," Alston shared in a statement obtained by WRAL News. "We are still believing in God, we're still praying and hoping that everything is going to be alright." Rescue operations were temporarily suspended late last night as temperatures dropped, impacting the safety of the divers involved.
Aggregating resources from six law enforcement agencies alongside Franklin County EMS, the search teams are expected to double today, suggesting a significantly expanded operation. "The amount of response that we have gotten -- it's a testament on how the community comes out," said a spokesperson from Franklin County EMS, as reported by WRAL News. The effort also included an overhead search by the State Highway Patrol helicopter, offering a bird's-eye view in an attempt to locate the child.
Concern heightens as each hour passes, yet the determination of the rescue crews persists. Alston, grappling with the situation, implored for continued communal support, asserting, "I just ask that you all continue to pray," referring to the boy's mother during an interview with ABC11. The river's depth at the area of interest is approximately 12-15 feet, and responders are poised to continue the search as long as conditions allow it to be safe.
