Woman dies after rescuing child who was struggling in Delaware River: Police
The body of a woman who rescued a child struggling in the Delaware River in New Jersey before slipping underwater herself has been recovered following an hourslong search, police said.
The incident occurred Monday afternoon at Amico Island Park in Delran, police said.
Delran police said they responded to the park shortly before 4 p.m. ET Monday for the report of two potential drowning victims.
Upon arrival, officers learned that the woman had gone into the Delaware River to help the girl, whom she was able to push toward the shore before going underwater, police said.
Bystanders were able to pull the girl to safety, police said.
Police identified the woman as 33-year-old Priscila Alvares Pereira Dos Santos, of Delran. Her body was recovered at approximately 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, about 20 feet off a beach at Amico Island Park, Delran police said.
"At this time, the circumstances involving this incident are not believed to be suspicious," the Delran Police Department said. "The investigation into the incident is ongoing and will further be conducted by the Burlington County Medical Examiner's Office."
The search involved multiple agencies, with several vessels and drones deployed. The search effort was suspended late Monday night before resuming Tuesday morning.
Dos Santos was from Brazil and died a day before her 34th birthday, her husband told ABC Philadelphia station WPVI. Speaking in Portuguese, he said that he wants people to know his wife was "an evangelical and a heroine who gave her own life to save a child," WPVI reported.
The man said his wife went in to save a 9-year-old family member, WPVI reported.
Amico Island Park, which is located where the Delaware River meets the Rancocas Creek, will remain closed to visitors on Tuesday due to the ongoing police investigation.
Swimming is not allowed at the park, according to the Burlington County Board of Commissioners.
