A tragedy befell a young family on Saturday when a flash flood swept away two children, leaving one dead and the other still missing. The body of a two-year-old girl, believed to be Matilda Sheils, was recovered on Friday evening in the Delaware River, about 30 miles from where the incident occurred. The young girl was one of two children taken by the fast-moving waters from their family’s vehicle.
According to authorities, a massive “wall of water” suddenly appeared as the family was visiting relatives and friends in the Philadelphia suburb. Matilda’s nine-month-old brother, Conrad, remains missing, and a massive search effort is underway to find him. Their mother, Katie Seley, 32, also perished in the flood, while their father, Jim Sheils, managed to grab their four-year-old son and escape the disaster.
Seley and the children’s grandmother, who were also attempting to save the little ones, were swept away by the raging waters. Miraculously, the grandmother survived, but not Seley or the two young children. The family’s automobile was destroyed in the flood, and it is unclear how they will recover from this devastating loss.
Tragic Flash Flood Claims Lives of Young FamilyTragically, four other people lost their lives in the flood, including an elderly couple from Newtown and a man and woman from nearby communities. The Bucks county coroner’s office has confirmed the identities of the victims, all locals who were suddenly and senselessly taken from their loved ones.
As news of the tragedy spread, an outpouring of support has inundated social media, with people from all walks of life expressing their condolences and solidarity with the bereaved family. The community is rallying around the survivors, offering a shoulder to cry on and support in the face of unending grief.