Sioux Falls emergency crews have found one of the two victims that drowned at Falls Park Thursday. Crews have recovered the body of Sixteen year old Madison Wallace of Vermillion.
Wallace was pulled into the swift current of the Big Sioux River after trying to rescue her younger brother, Garret Wallace, who authorities presume fell into the water. Six year old Garret Wallace was rescued safely however bystander, 28 year old Lyle Francis Eagletail, who also went into the water to attempt a rescue was lost to the current as well.
Sioux Falls Fire and Rescue Chief Jim Sideras said harsh water conditions may continue to complicate recovery efforts of the second victim.
“All three went in up there, we just don’t know where we’re going to locate him yet. We are starting again searching at the top and work out way down. Just because of the amount of the debris in the water, the currents, the undertow, even though we have shut down a lot of the water coming in its still going to be an issue of finding him, where he is located at,” said Sideras.
Sideras said a thick layer of ice had been removed from the area Wallace’s body was found. Officials estimate the water in that area at five to eight feet deep.