GOLDSBORO, N.C. (WNCN) – A search for a father and his 5-year-old son was suspended overnight but is now back underway.
Wednesday night crews were searching in and around the Neuse River in Goldsboro for the pair after a 911 caller reported seeing a child slip into the water.
Around 8 p.m., a call came in from someone who said they saw a father and son fishing off of a dock at the Goldsboro Boating Access Area off of U.S. 117. The caller said they saw the child slip in, spokesperson Joel Gillie said.
The father jumped in after him. A boat on the river stopped to help, too. Crews from various organizations are working to find the two, Gillie said shortly after 11 p.m. Wednesday.
Crews from the Goldsboro Fire Department, another volunteer fire department, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office dive team and Wayne County EMS were all on scene. Five boats were in the water and sonar was used, along with a helicopter Gillie said.
The river banks and surrounding land area have been searched.
Gillie said earlier crews will remain on scene searching throughout the night as long as it is safe to do so. A release from Gillie at 2:30 a.m. said the search had been suspended for the night.
The search resumed after 8:30 a.m. Thursday.
On Thursday morning Gillie told CBS 17 that all of the agencies that were helping Wednesday night were back this morning.
As of 8:40 a.m., nearly 10 boats were at the river and two had already been put in the water. The water in the area where the search is currently being conducted is measuring 10 feet deep, officials said.
Officials also confirmed on Thursday morning that a 7-year-old was with the pair when they went fishing. The 7-year-old child did not get in the water and is not missing.
