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The search for two people who jumped into the Big Sioux River to rescue a boy who had fallen in at Falls Park Thursday night could continue beyond Friday. While the boy was able to get out of the water, a man and teenage girl still haven't been found.
Sioux Falls Police Chief Doug Barthel identified the people involved on Friday during a police briefing. Barthel says six-year-old Garrett Wallace of Vermillion fell into the water. His 16-year-old sister, Madison Wallace, went in after him as did a witness, 28-year-old Lyle Francis Eagletail of Sioux Falls. Madison and Eagletail are the two that crews are still looking for in the river.
Sioux Falls Fire Chief Jim Sideras says while crews worked through the night, they were unable to find the two.
Rescue teams have now transitioned their work from a rescue mission to one of recovery. They say it is no longer possible for the missing man and teenager to be alive.
The foam in the Falls is making this recovery mission very difficult. Sideras says it is reported to be 10 feet tall in some areas. When Garrett first went into the river, he disappeared in the foam. Once out of the water, he said that he was able to breathe while in the foam.
In addition to moving the foam out of the way, crews are lowering the flow of water over the Falls and using large equipment from the city's public works department to break up large chunks of ice. They haven't been able to put divers in the water yet due to the ice and strong flow of the water.
The park is closed to the public while crews continue the search.
