Rescue crews scale back search for Wichita boy, 11, in creek

Crews from the Wichita Fire Department scaled back efforts Tuesday to find an 11-year-old boy who was swept away in rain-swollen waters last week in southeast Wichita.

Wichita Fire Chief Ron Blackwell said Tuesday that firefighters would be pulled out of Gypsum Creek, where Devon Cooley was swept away by rapid currents Friday. Because of recent rainfall, those in the water have zero visibility, he said, and more rain was possible later in the day.

Water levels in the creek rose a foot or two just from the light rain overnight Monday into early Tuesday, Wichita Fire Marshal Brad Crisp said.

That rise occurred after just .36 of an inch fell after midnight, according to the local branch of the National Weather Service. The soil is so saturated any rain that falls immediately becomes runoff, Crisp said.

While there is a possibility of rain later on Tuesday, “chances are waning” for the Wichita area, said Vanessa Pearce, meteorologist for the Wichita branch of the weather service.

The plan is to wait for the water levels to drop significantly before recovery efforts resume, Blackwell said. The fire department will evaluate conditions either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning before making decisions on resuming diving operations.

Divers were focusing on an area of the creek east of Hillside. While much of the creek is about 4 feet deep, Crisp said, there is a section just before a curve to the north where the water plunges to a depth of 16 feet. The divers have been searching in that area, Crisp said, in part because search dogs have reacted as if Devon may be located in that area.

Devon was walking with three friends near the creek northeast of Hillside when he was swept away as he tried to walk where a path normally crosses the creek, officials have said.

Devon’s family hosted a cookout Monday evening in appreciation of the recovery and rescue efforts, along with a candlelight vigil Monday night.

Devon’s 12th birthday would have been on Thursday.

This story was originally published May 31, 2016 at 7:16 AM with the headline "Rescue crews scale back search for Wichita boy, 11, in creek."