Boy, 10, who drowned saving his sister, 11, after she fell into raging river is named as rescuers provide tragic update on search for their missing friend

Published: 20:03, 1 August 2026 | Updated: 20:04, 1 August 2026 A ten-year-old boy who drowned while saving his older sister from a raging New Jersey river has been named. Michael Klenk was identified by PIX11 as the child who died after helping his 11-year-old sister, Hope Klenk, reach rocks and climb out of the rain-swollen Passaic River on Wednesday evening. Hope's friend Milian Dula, ten, was also identified by the outlet as the third child who was swept into the waters as the three children played near a boat ramp. She had been missing for several days, sparking a huge search, but on Friday officials confirmed they had recovered her body near the Market Street Bridge shortly before 7pm. The children were swept into the river while playing near a boat ramp at Dundee Island Park in Passaic. Hope escaped, but Michael and Milian were carried away by the powerful current. Michael’s body was recovered approximately 50 feet from the boat ramp shortly after 10pm Wednesday, ABC7 New York reported. Crews spent the next two days searching nearly nine miles of the river for Milian using boats, divers, drones, sonar and cadaver dogs. They were preparing to suspend Friday’s search when a nearby couple spotted something unusual in the water from their apartment and called 911, Passaic Mayor Hector Lora said. Michael Klenk, 10, (right) drowned after he was swept away alongside his sister Hope, 11, (left) and their 10-year-old friend, Milian Dula, (not pictured) into a New Jersey river. Michael and Milian died, while Hope managed to climb out  Michael managed to help his sister scramble up some rocks before he drowned, according to officials Rescue crews set out to find the Michael and Milian after they were swept into the rain-swollen Passaic River while playing near a boat ramp ‘Some people would’ve seen something obscure and went back into their apartment, but not this couple,’ Lora said at a Friday night press conference. Rescue boats were deployed within approximately 15 minutes and recovered Milian’s body about 100 feet from the bridge, according to CBS News New York. Lora said the current could have carried her toward Newark Bay overnight had the couple not raised the alarm. Milian’s family was brought to the recovery site 1.25 miles downstream from where she disappeared, so her mother was able to see her daughter. Garfield Mayor Everett Garnto Jr said the mother later told officials: ‘She looked just like she was when she left the house.’ ‘Unfortunately, it’s not the outcome we wanted, but it gives the family tonight some peace,’ Garnto said. A rainbow appeared above the scene as Milian’s mother waited, despite officials seeing no rain in the immediate area. ‘There was a very strong rainbow that just stood there,’ Lora said. ‘This brought some comfort to the mother as she was waiting to see her little girl.’ Mayor of Passaic Hector Lora announced at a press conference that the body of a Milian Dula, the 10-year-old girl who was missing, was recovered in the Passaic River A couple spotted Milian’s body from their apartment window near the Market Street Bridge and immediately called 911 The tragedy unfolded at around 6.20pm Wednesday while Milian, Michael and Hope were playing near the riverbank. Children watching from the opposite side saw them struggling and called 911, ABC7 reported. A man at the park jumped into the river but was forced to turn back as the depth and current overwhelmed him. ‘He went in about five meters deep, and when he got too deep and the current was pushing him away, he could not reach them,’ Lora told the Associated Press. Lora said Hope told him that her younger brother’s actions may have helped her survive. The mayor told ABC7 that Michael pushed Hope toward nearby rocks as he went under. He gave the Associated Press a more detailed account, saying Michael placed a hand on Hope’s head while struggling to remain above water and may have saved her inadvertently. Hope felt rocks beneath her after going underwater and used them to climb to safety. Heavy rainfall had left the river higher and faster than usual. Milian, Michael (left) and Hope (right) all attended School No. 6 in Garfield, New Jersey, according to PIX11 Heavy rainfall had left the Passaic River higher and faster than usual when the three children were swept into the water Rescuers searched nearly nine miles of the river using boats, divers, drones, sonar and cadaver dogs Hackensack Riverkeeper executive director Bill Sheehan told News 12 New Jersey that the sloping concrete boat ramp could appear safe before dropping suddenly into deep water and thick mud. Investigators had not determined exactly how the children entered the river. A makeshift memorial for Michael grew near the boat launch as the search for Milian continued, NBC New York reported. Milian, Michael and Hope were all from Garfield and attended School Number 6, according to PIX11. The two families thanked the community for its support and requested privacy as they mourned.