Search for Boy's Body in Kankakee River to Continue Wednesday Morning

WILMINGTON, IL — Nearly 70 people spent Tuesday searching for the body of a 12-year-old boy who was swept away in the Kankakee River Monday evening at the South Island dam in Wilmington.

In addition to the rescuers, several boats and two aircrafts assisted in the recovery effort, which began at 8 a.m. Tuesday morning after a suspended search from Monday night, according to the Wilmington Police Department.

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Search crews took some time to rest Tuesday afternoon but resumed their efforts at 3 p.m. and battled storm fronts while searching for the boy.

The search was suspended at 7 p.m. and will resume Wednesday morning.

During a press conference Tuesday, Wilmington Deputy Fire Chief Todd Friddle said the likelihood of finding him will increase as days go by.

The boy was described as being Hispanic and wearing dark-colored shorts and no shirt. He’s around 5’2’’ and 100 pounds.

Wilmington Police Chief Phillip Arnold said both children were in the area with their father. The mother was not present.

The boy’s 13-year-old sister, Abigail Arroyo, was pronounced dead Monday evening at St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet. Abigail’s name was mistakenly given as Abiyail by the Will County Coroner’s Office.

Police were called to the area at around 6 p.m. Monday. Bystanders saw that the children were in distress and two jumped into the water in an attempt to rescue them.

Officers arrived within minutes of the call and immediately deployed water-rescue throw bags. One of the would-be rescuers, Alvaro Ibarra, 28, of Blue Island, was able to grab the rope and was pulled from the water and up the wall by Sgt. Don Thomas, Officer Matt Kiebles, Officer Richard Santana and other bystanders that offered assistance, police said.

Officers said that although they were able to get a throw rope in front of the girl, she was unresponsive.

The second would-be rescuer, Ramon Ibarra, 25, of Blue Island, was able to be pulled out of the water at the shore line. He was transported to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox and admitted in critical condition.