Pennsylvania

Body of 2-year-old girl swept away in Pennsylvania flood that killed mom found as search for 9-month-old brother continues

Published

on


The body of a 2-year-old girl was found in Pennsylvania Friday, five days after she was swept away in dangerous floodwaters with her mother and baby brother, who is still missing.

Matilda “Mattie” Sheils’ body was recovered in the Delaware River around 5 p.m., after anonymous callers alerted police that there was a possible body in the water near the Philadelphia Waste Disposal Plant.

Sheils was found near a debris pile by the waste plant — 32 miles away from where she was first swept up in the floodwater on July 16.

Her mother Katie Seley, 32, died trying to get her children out of the vehicle before being caught up with Mattie and 9-month-old Conrad Sheils, who police continue to search for.

Advertisement

Sheils’ brother Jack, 4, her father Jim and maternal grandmother Dahlia survived the deadly waters.

The South Carolina family had been visiting relatives in Pennsylvania and got caught in the floodwaters on their way to a barbeque, Fire Chief Tim Brewer said.

Matilda “Mattie” Sheils’ body was recovered in the Delaware River on Friday. Her 9-month-old brother Conrad, center, i s still missing.
GoFundMe

The family was swept up in flash flooding in Pennsylvania on July 16, killing mother Katie and Mattie, 2. Father Jim and older son, Jack, 4, survived the deadly waters and cops are still searching for 9-month-old Conrad.
Facebook/Upper Makefield Township Police Department

“This has been an extremely intense and emotional time for the family, for our first responders, and for the community and I know all our hearts are broken this evening,” the Upper Makefield Township Police Department said in a press release.

“Although Mattie was found 32 miles away from where we lost her, she has never been closer to all of our hearts than she is now.”

The little girl’s body has been returned to family.

“We are grateful that our little Mattie has been brought home to us. We are still praying for the return of Conrad. Thank you all, again, for your compassion and your kindness. We are humbled,” the Sheils’ family said in a statement released by police.

Advertisement

Jim survived the flash flood that killed his wife, Katie, and two kids.
GoFundMe

Police are still searching for 9-month-old Conrad near the Delaware River.
Facebook/Upper Makefield Township Police Department

Katie’s mother Dahlia also survived the deadly flood.
Facebook/Upper Makefield Township Police Department

Sheil’s autopsy will be performed Saturday by the Philadelphia Medical Examiner.

Four others drowned in the Pennsylvania flooding.

“With these five deaths, this is a mass casualty incident the likes of which we have not seen before,” the local police department wrote on Facebook. “This has been unbelievably devastating to all the families involved, all of our first responders, and to our community as a whole.”

Bucks County, north of Philadelphia, was walloped by about 7 inches of rain in 45 minutes last Saturday.



Source link

Advertisement

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Trending

Exit mobile version