Friday, June 24, 2016

4-year old boy died in massive West Virginia flash floods after 9-inch fell in just 16 hours


Boy, 4, swept away in WV flood found dead




A family was holding on to hope to find the missing 4-year-old boy (KTRK)



Updated 25 mins ago

RAVENSWOOD, WV -- The body of a 4-year-old boy who slipped into a rushing creek during a flood that devastated West Virginia was found Friday morning, raising the flood's death toll to five.

Bob Bibbee with the Ravenswood Fire Department confirmed the boy was found dead at 11:30 a.m. about a quarter mile from where he fell.

Bibbee said the toddler was outside with his grandfather when he fell into the creek, which usually runs about an ankle deep. Jackson County was pounded with 9 inches of rain in 16 hours and the creek rose to about 6 feet.

The grandfather jumped in after the boy to try to pull him out but the water was rushing too quickly. Neighbors, alerted by the sound of the family's screams, tried to help save the boy but were also unable to reach him.

Dozens of rescuers from four counties searched until dusk Thursday night and resumed Friday morning.