Recovery mission underway for missing teen who slipped off rock into Niagara River while fishing with friends
The desperate search for an 18-year-old recent high school graduate who vanished in the raging waters of the Niagara River has turned into a heartbreaking recovery mission after days of exhaustive efforts by emergency crews, according to reports.Aung Hla, of Buffalo, disappeared Wednesday after slipping from rocks while fishing with five friends in a restricted section of the Niagara Gorge near the Whirlpool Park stairs, according to New York State Park Police.The agency said it received a report of a man in the river around 10:15 a.m.Witnesses said the recent Kenmore West High School graduate fell into the swift current, fought desperately to stay afloat, and was then swept away by the river’s powerful rapids, according to local news station 2WGRZ.Since then, dozens of first responders have searched relentlessly by land, air and water, deploying helicopters, boats, jet skis and night-vision drones in hopes of finding the teenager.But on Friday, after an extensive three-day search stretching from the Niagara Gorge to the mouth of the river at Lake Ontario, authorities announced that the rescue effort had officially become a recovery operation, according to the outlet.“Our thoughts are with the young man’s family and friends during this difficult time,” New York State Park Police said in a statement.The search brought together the cooperation of several agencies, including New York State Park Police, New York State Police, the U.S.Coast Guard, U.S.
Border Patrol, Canadian Park Police, Erie and Niagara County aviation units and the Niagara Falls Fire Department.Capt.Chris Rola of New York State Park Police said the picturesque gorge can be deceiving.“…While it’s a beautiful area, it’s a very dangerous area if you get into the areas that are restricted,” he told WKBW, noting that the washed-out trails made search efforts especially challenging.
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