A frantic search is underway for a 4-year-old boy who was reported missing in Yellow River at 5:41 p.m. Saturday. The child was spotted floating down the river and unable to get out, according to a 911 call.
Emergency crews from Gwinnett County Fire Department, Gwinnett Police Department, and DeKalb Fire Units were involved in rescue efforts at Yellow River Park at 3050 Juhan Road SW in Stone Mountain.
The boy’s mother told firefighters she had last seen her son near the river around 5:30 p.m., briefly spotting him before he disappeared beneath the water’s surface.
The child is described as a four-year-old African American male, wearing black sweatpants. He was not wearing a Personal Flotation Device.
Firefighters began searching the riverbanks, with DeKalb County Fire Rescue searching from the Annistown Road bridge north on the Yellow River, toward the park. Gwinnett County crews searched downriver from the park toward the Annistown Road bridge. The Swiftwater Rescue Team deployed an inflatable marine vessel to aid in the search.
Multiple drones have been deployed by Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services, Gwinnett County Police Department, and DeKalb County Fire Rescue to locate the missing child. A Gwinnett County Police helicopter with Forward-looking infrared cameras is also providing aerial support.
Search efforts continued until 8 p.m. but were halted due to diminished visibility and increased safety risks.
Aerial search efforts will continue until 1 a.m.
Search crews have contacted the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Gwinnett County Emergency Management, and Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation for additional resources and consultation.
The search for the missing child will resume when conditions improve.
Context: The Yellow River is a 76-mile-long waterway located in Gwinnett County. It flows through the county and provides a habitat for diverse flora and fauna, as well as offering recreational opportunities such as hiking, fishing, and kayaking for visitors and residents alike.
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