Sad drownings I can't stop thinking about

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

I didn't mention this earlier in the month when it happened but in the town next to me about three weeks ago there was a sudden and deadly flash flood. I'm not too far from the NJ border and the Delaware river is the dividing line.

However this flood was not along the river but a small creek about a half mile inland. It's a creek that you never really notice usually when driving by. However that day the creek became a raging body of water suddenly overflowing onto the road and 7 people from different vehicles died. At least ten people were rescued along the road.

The saddest story is that of a family of five. The father escaped with a 4 year old son as well as the grandmother who was swept into the creek but was able to grab onto a tree and pull herself out. The mother drowned and there was a 9 month old and a toddler who were lost.

The creek goes into the Delaware and the toddler was found in the river near Philly (this happened 30 miles north of the city). The baby was never found and they called the search off yesterday. I can't stop thinking about them....this is so very sad.

https://6abc.com/conrad-sheils-missing-9-month-old-bucks-county-flooding-upper-makefield-police/1355...

depglass · ‎03-10-2010

We steel ourselves to the tragedies that are reported on national news, as this one was. But when it is in your area it really hits you hard.

Lucky Charm · ‎03-09-2010

@haddon9 wrote:
I didn't mention this earlier in the month when it happened but in the town next to me about three weeks ago there was a sudden and deadly flash flood. I'm not too far from the NJ border and the Delaware river is the dividing line.

However this flood was not along the river but a small creek about a half mile inland. It's a creek that you never really notice usually when driving by. However that days the creek became a raging body of water suddenly overflowing onto the road and 5 people from different vehicles died. At least ten people were rescued along the road.

The saddest story is that a family of five. The father escaped with a 4 year old son as well as the grandmother who was swept into the creek but was able to grabe onto a tree and pull herself out. The mother drowned and there was a 9 month old and a toddler who were lost.

The creek goes into the Delaware and the toddler was found in the river near Philly (this happened 30 miles north of the city). The baby was never found and they called the search off yesterday. I can't stop thinking about them....this is so very sad.

https://6abc.com/conrad-sheils-missing-9-month-old-bucks-county-flooding-upper-makefield-police/1355...

Honestly, I wanted to reach out to you about this since it happened! But there was no thread you posted on that I thought it would be okay to bring it up.

I'm with you as far as being haunted by this.

I'm so glad that they firmly stated the father did not try to drive thru high water, that a wall of water just overtook them.

I was so sad when I heard that the older child was found. Sad for the bystanders that saw her in the water. I know that things change with time, temps and all else that happens biologically when someone is in the water. And that had to have been awful. And almost unbelievable--since it was so far away.

My thoughts, I think I'd lose my mind to know someone saw my precious child(ren) after their demise. I know many/most would want to have the closure of having the body returned to them. I can understand. But, I don't think I'd want that.

Mother Nature took them away, I'd let Mother Nature deal with my pain, if it could happen that way.

Jesse Ann · ‎08-20-2022

It is amazing how quickly things can happen and change the way one views things. Like now realizing that unnoticed creek is now a cautionary thing. That is very tragic. I do not know if it was that infant or another infant that they stopped looking for yesterday (drowning victim). That is one thing we will all face one day, death. We each personally must have peace about our time. It always hurts the heart a bit deeper when tragedies happen to innocent victims and/or people we feel familiar with or connected to. I hope you are able to feel better in the days to come. The pain that family must be suffering at this time.

ck111 · ‎09-16-2021

I am in South Jersey. I agree with you 100%. It is just tragic. Prayers for the family.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

I think this incident was widely reported nationwide. I know we heard a lot about it in New Mexico and my sister and I discussed it.

Yes, it was very tragic and beyond sad. I'm sure the memory of it will be with people for a long time. Never underestimate to power of water.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

Jaspersmom · ‎06-08-2011

I live on LI and we heard about this on our news too. There was a drowning up in Rockland County. This is weather most of us are not used to, so we're not always prepared to deal with it. Flash floods are scary.

MoJoV · ‎10-01-2010

I saw the pictures of the children on the news and it's heartbreaking. They were just swept away, the parents weren't driving into a flood as some do.

Trees are the lungs of the Earth

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

@depglass wrote:
We steel ourselves to the tragedies that are reported on national news, as this one was. But when it is in your area it really hits you hard.

@depglass Yes this is so very true! My own 5 month old grandson came to visit (with his parents of course) the very following day.....and you can't help but think what if it had been my family?

I literally drive down that road every week. It's been closed now but the road where the tragedy happened opened yesterday. There are still a few roads that are closed but we work our way around them.

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

@Lucky Charm wrote:
@haddon9 wrote:
I didn't mention this earlier in the month when it happened but in the town next to me about three weeks ago there was a sudden and deadly flash flood. I'm not too far from the NJ border and the Delaware river is the dividing line.

However this flood was not along the river but a small creek about a half mile inland. It's a creek that you never really notice usually when driving by. However that days the creek became a raging body of water suddenly overflowing onto the road and 5 people from different vehicles died. At least ten people were rescued along the road.

The saddest story is that a family of five. The father escaped with a 4 year old son as well as the grandmother who was swept into the creek but was able to grabe onto a tree and pull herself out. The mother drowned and there was a 9 month old and a toddler who were lost.

The creek goes into the Delaware and the toddler was found in the river near Philly (this happened 30 miles north of the city). The baby was never found and they called the search off yesterday. I can't stop thinking about them....this is so very sad.

https://6abc.com/conrad-sheils-missing-9-month-old-bucks-county-flooding-upper-makefield-police/1355...
Honestly, I wanted to reach out to you about this since it happened! But there was no thread you posted on that I thought it would be okay to bring it up.

I'm with you as far as being haunted by this.

I'm so glad that they firmly stated the father did not try to drive thru high water, that a wall of water just overtook them.

I was so sad when I heard that the older child was found. Sad for the bystanders that saw her in the water. I know that things change with time, temps and all else that happens biologically when someone is in the water. And that had to have been awful. And almost unbelievable--since it was so far away.

My thoughts, I think I'd lose my mind to know someone saw my precious child(ren) after their demise. I know many/most would want to have the closure of having the body returned to them. I can understand. But, I don't think I'd want that.

Mother Nature took them away, I'd let Mother Nature deal with my pain, if it could happen that way.