Search for missing child to resume Friday morning
Police and first responders will resume a water search for a six-year-old boy who disappeared while swimming in the river Thursday afternoon at Mill Race Park. Authorities say that Brendan Sperry was playing on a sandbar with relatives when he waded to far in to the water and was swept away. Family members say that a 14-year-old cousin tried to save the boy, but she was unable to do so.
The initial call for help came in just after 3 p.m. Jet Quillen, spokesman for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, says that several people and agencies are involved in the search.
Crews were on the scene until just after 10:30 p.m. before calling it a night. They are set to resume the search at 8 a.m. Friday. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that Mill Race Park will remain closed until further notice.
Family members say that Brendan and his family had just moved to Columbus about a month ago. The boy’s father, a member of the Indiana National Guard, was recently deployed to Australia. Family say he’s set to return home on Tuesday.