Body of Missing Boy Found in Branford River

Police Capt. Geoff Morgan and Fire Chief Tom Mahoney announced yesterday that the body of a 10-year-old boy, reported missing along the Branford River, has been found. The initial call was tweeted by the Branford Fire Department around 1 p.m.; the boy’s body was found about 50 yards away from shore by divers around 4 p.m.

The boy, whose identity has not been disclosed, was playing along the Branford River along Tabor Drive/South Montowese Street with his two brothers and, according to officials, lost his footing and was ​“sucked into a culvert.” His brothers, one older, one younger, tried to help him. He was found by the Guilford dive team in the initial search area, although the search extended along the Branford River toward Indian Neck. 

According to police one of the brothers called 911 when they could not find him .

A strong current in the area and the 11 a.m. high tide contributed to the accident and complicated the search, which moved from the area of Tabor Drive to the Stony Creek Brewery off Indian Neck Avenue. Strong rain enveloped the coastline in the morning hours yesterday.

“A lot of assets and a lot of technology at our disposal, and unfortunately, because of the terrain and mucky conditions and the way everything moves around in there, it was very difficult to find him,” said Mahoney. The body was found about 50 yards from where the boy fell. 

“Our hearts go out to the family,” Mahoney said. ​“It didn’t have the outcome we wanted. “

Folks in the neighborhood helped in the search, peering into river banks. ​“We can’t thank them enough. Branford is a very tight knit community,” he said.

He extended thanks to all involved in the search, on the river and on land. ​”They did a great job.” 

Multiple search parties were involved, including crews from East Haven and Guilford, state police and New Haven fire personnel. Morgan said police also used sonar and a drone to search for the boy. First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove was at the scene. 

Remember Tidal Waterways

Morgan said, ​“We’d like to remind everyone that, although this was a tragic accident, please, please when waterways swell around rainstorms, it becomes important for our children not to get into these areas that flood rather quickly. His voice dropped. ​“I guess there’s not much else I can say about that. This is a terrible loss for our community.”

Morgan was touched personally. He said that he had grown up in the area and had played there as did his own kids. ​“When you’re a young boy, it’s part of your livelihood, the Branford River,” Morgan said.

He added it was the second time he has been involved in such a search. ​“Culverts (a tunnel structure under roadways or railways) are dangerous and people need to stay away from them,” he said. The boy was sucked into a 48-inch pipe.

The boy was a student in the Branford school district. In response to his death, Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez issued the following statement: ​“Our collective hearts are broken and our thoughts and prayers are with the family. The school district is arranging for grief counselors to support children experiencing difficulties with the tragic passing of a classmate.” Hernandez did not identify the student or his school.

He added that information regarding grief counselors will be posted on the District’s website at http://www.branfordschools.org/ on Sunday.

Both fire and police chaplains, the Rev. Sharon Gracen and the Rev. Bill Keane respectively, consoled the family as the search took place.

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