WIVB
Wednesday, June 05, 2013
Buffalo Police have released the name of the teenager who died
Monday, after going into the water at Squaw Island to rescue his
7-year-old cousin. Police say 17-year-old Mustafa Ismail, of Buffalo, was pronounced dead at ECMC Monday evening.
Witnesses
say Ismail's cousin, who is in town from Tennessee, slipped on rocks
and fell into the Niagara River. Ismail jumped into the water to rescue
her. He was able to save the girl but he was then swept away by the
swift current.
One of Ismail's sisters and a bystander reportedly
jumped in to help save Ismail. Rescue crews pulled the bystander and
the sister from the water.
Crews searched for Ismail and a dive
team pulled him from the water about 45 minutes later. Rescuers tried to
revive him, and rushed him to ECMC where he was pronounced dead.
Tuesday,
the Buffalo Somalian community, many who don't know Ismail, came
together to bury him in accordance with Muslim tradition. Ismail and his
family had moved to WNY from Somalia less than a month ago.
The
father of Ismail's cousin says he is very grateful for what the teen did
by jumping into the river to save the little girl. But at the same
time, he says he feels awful for Ismail's family, who came to Buffalo
sponsored by Catholic Charities.
"Obviously we want them to make a
fresh start in Buffalo and for this to happen, just a tragic accident,
is very, very sad and our prayers and deep condolences with the family,"
said Rose Caldwell of Catholic Charities.
The little girl and Ismail's sister, who both were in the water, are said to be okay.