Boy clings to branch as he and 4 friends are swept away in stream, Hawaii officials say

Five boys playing in a stream near a school were swept away by fast-moving water, Hawaii officials said.

The boys, all ages 9 and 10, were rescued from Palolo Stream on Dec. 6, the Honolulu Fire Department said.

One of the boys was found clinging to a branch, fire officials said.

“Personnel positioned themselves in the stream behind Jarrett Middle School and captured the first boy, who released his grip of the branch, as the rushing water swept him by,” firefighters said in a news release. “A second boy was rescued further down the stream with a ladder by firefighters.”

Three other boys were swept farther down stream, fire officials said. They were lifted out of the water and assessed by emergency responders.

The boys told officials they went to play in the stream after school and were swept away by the rushing water, according to the fire department.

None of the boys were injured and were released to their parents.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige declared a state of emergency for the state Dec. 6 after heavy rainfall was expected to cause flooding and damage.

Up to 25 inches of rain was possible in some areas, and one foot of rain already fell on Maui in the past 24 hours, according to CNN.