DETROIT, MI – A family graduation celebration turned into a tragedy on Saturday evening when a 14-year-old girl drowned after successfully rescuing her younger cousin from the Detroit River.
The Heroic Rescue
The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, during a family gathering at a local Detroit park. Authorities report that a 9-year-old girl accidentally fell into the river, prompting her older cousin, Aamina Bradley, to jump in after her.
Bystanders quickly rushed to assist and successfully pulled the 9-year-old out of the water. However, Aamina was pulled away by the river’s powerful undercurrent before she could be reached.
Emergency Response and Recovery
The Detroit Police Department (DPD), alongside the Detroit Fire Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Harbor Master, immediately launched a rescue operation at the scene. DPD Commander Lawrence Purifoy confirmed that due to the conditions, the mission unfortunately had to transition from a rescue to a recovery effort.
Aamina’s body was recovered from the river later that evening. Her father, Glenn Bradley, shared that his daughter “loved the water” and was an experienced swimmer, but she was simply overcome by the strength of the river’s current.
Community Mourns the Loss
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield released a statement expressing deep condolences to the Bradley family following the tragic loss, thanking both the first responders and the quick-thinking bystanders who assisted at the park.
A community fundraising campaign has been established to support the Bradley family with funeral costs and to honor the 14-year-old’s heroic actions.
