Peoria Teen Swept Away By Floodwater Survives By Clinging To Tree Branch
(CBS) -- A Peoria teenager swept away by floodwaters was found alive after clinging to a tree branch for 12 hours.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports for police and family members, it was the end of a nightmare, wondering if 15-year-old Demarcus Jackson would be found alive.
Family reported Jackson missing around 6 p.m. Sunday, two hours after a downpour turned this drainage slough into a fast-moving river.
The waters swept the boy right out of a friend's sight, but early this morning, April Eckhardt and Fred Robison, who live near the ditch, climbed in and went looking for the boy they knew.
"Come round by the tunnels, we thought we'd search down there and the young man come walking out of the tunnel, God bless him," Robison said.
"I just ran up and gave him a hug and I said, 'Oh my God young man, you have no idea how many people were praying for you,'" said April Eckhardt.
Jackson suffered only minor cuts and bruises and authorities say, he held onto a tree branch for dear life, leading to relief and celebration for his family.
"He's been found alive," said Patricia Sanders, Demarcus' mother. "He's got a little scratches, but he's ok."
Demarcus' brother and a friend were also swimming in that creek when the storm waters rose, but they were able to escape.
That storm dumped more than eight inches of rain in the Peoria area and the waters in that drainage channel were rising so high and moving so fast, firefighters had has to suspend their search.
