Girl, 15, Missing After She Fell into N.Y.C. River: ‘This Never Happens Here’

A 15-year-old girl who allegedly attempted to retrieve her phone from the East River is missing after being taken by its currents near the Roosevelt Island Bridge in New York City.

At around 12:15 p.m. local time on Friday, May 30, authorities were alerted that a teenager had gone missing after she went into the water, the New York Post, CBS News New York and NBC New York reported. Upon arrival, police discovered the missing girl’s friend beside the river. The friend stayed nearby with the authorities as the search continued into the afternoon.

At the time of publication, the search recovered a few items believed to belong to the missing girl, including two books, a bag, sneakers, and clothing items.

The teenager was wearing a bathing suit with flowers on it at the time she disappeared.

The New York Police Department and the Fire Department of New York searched for her for several hours before having to suspend their search due to the weather conditions, per CBS News New York.

Authorities have not confirmed why the girl went into the water. However, bystanders have alleged that she dropped her phone in the river and attempted to retrieve it, according to the Post. She was then allegedly caught in the river’s strong currents.

“I’m in shock,” bystander Maria Gomez told the outlet. “This never happens here. Everyone knows the dangers that’s on [the East River], that current. It’s sad.”

“My friend told me [she saw] a little girl fall in,” a man told the Post. “She saw her going over the railing. She hopped the fence, she slipped on the rocks. That’s what I heard. She was on the rocks, she slipped and fell in.”

“I have never been in these waters, but I’ve heard that the current is pretty strong, especially around here,” Roosevelt Island resident Zach Dokart told CBS New York. “It’s a sad situation, I really hope they find her.”