MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner announced Thursday that two more bodies have been recovered from the Kinnickinnic River, two days after the body of a 10-year-old boy was found.
It has been four days since 10-year-old Muhammad A. Rashidullah was swept into a drainage ditch near 27th and Loomis.
According to a report from the medical examiner, Rashidullah chased a soccer ball into the drainage ravine. His dad, Rashidullah Bin Abdul Hashim, saw him struggling to get out and ran to the ravine, got in, and gave his son a bear hug.
That's when the boy's neighbor, Zakaria Bin Gonumeah, saw the two struggling to get out and attempted to make a human chain to bring them back to shore. He was then swept into the current as well.
The three did not come back out. First responders were called and officials began their search.
Previous coverage:
- Body of 10-year-old found in river, search continues for 2 missing men in Milwaukee drainage ditch
- Day three: Search continues for two missing men after 10-year-old's body was found
- How dangerous are storm drains? One Milwaukee alderman calls them a 'death trap'
On Tuesday, Fire Chief Aaron Lipski confirmed first responders found Rashidullah's body near 16th and Cleveland, nearly two miles from where he first fell. However, there was no sign of the two men.
Officials continued their search until storms came into the area Wednesday night, forcing them to stop for the day.
The recovery efforts resumed Thursday morning and shortly before 9 a.m., reports came in of a body being found in the river. TMJ4 News reached out to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office who said they were called to the scene.
Then, shortly before noon, officials responded to a second location near the Kinnickinnic River for another body in the water.
The ME confirmed two bodies were recovered, belonging to the two men officials had been searching for.
According to an investigation report from the medical examiner, Gonumeah was found near 1st and Becher, while Rashidullah was found outside of Barnacle Bud's Restaurant. Someone walking by spotted the body and informed an employee at Barnacle Buds. That employee called 911.
Both men were around four miles away from where they initially entered the water.
Shaukhat Ali is the executive director of the Rohingya American Society and said it's a tragic ending to a horrific accident, one that has left two families grieving.
Ali said while it's been a difficult four days for the family, it gives them some peace of mind now that all men have been located.
He adds all three will be buried side by side Friday at the Arlington Cemetery following a Muslim prayer.
Ali said while the family now prepares for the three burials, he's taking steps to ensure something like this doesn't happen again by providing water safety training.
"We are going to encourage everyone in our community to go get swimming lessons," Ali said.
A GoFundMe has been created to help support the families of the victims. To donate, click here.
