Manoa Fire Company

Community Rallies in Search for Missing Child as Chester Officials Coordinate Multi-Agency Rescue Effort


By Manoa Fire Company
March 24, 2024

An extensive search and rescue operation is currently underway for a missing 6-year-old child in the Chester area. The Manoa Fire Company - Station 56 Swift Water Rescue team is actively participating, following their deployment last evening where they provided critical assistance to city units for several hours. The search continues along Chester Creek south of West 8th Street and extends to the Delaware River. Multiple land, air, and water teams are involved, including resources from 911 Emergency Communications Mobile Command Post, County water rescue teams, the City of Wilmington Marine Unit, and US Coast Guard boats and helicopters. Chester Fire Commissioner Shirley is overseeing the large-scale operation. Chester City Officials will provide a next update today at 2 PM regarding the ongoing efforts.

As our community comes together during this difficult time, we also want to remind everyone of the critical importance of water safety, especially for children: Supervision: Always supervise children when they are near water, even if they know how to swim. Accidents can happen quickly and without warning. Wear Life Jackets: Ensure that children wear life jackets in and around natural bodies of water, even if they are not planning to go into the water. Teach Swimming Skills: Early swimming lessons can be vital in preventing water-related accidents in children. Establish Rules: Make sure children understand the rules of water safety, such as not swimming alone and staying away from fast-moving water. Emergency Preparedness: Teach children what to do in case of an emergency, such as calling for help and how to use life-saving devices. Our thoughts are with the family of the missing child and all those involved in the search. We hope for a safe resolution soon.