WARFIELD, Ky. — It has been a tragic Christmas for one Martin County family, following reports of a child falling into the rain-swollen Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River.

The Warfield Fire Department, Kermit Fire Department, Martin County Sheriff’s Office and numerous volunteers responded around 11:30 this morning to a residence at Hode, where the incident occurred. There, they found the child’s tracks leading toward the river and his hat on the bank.

Rescuers combed the banks, and boats were put into the river. Hearts sank just before 2 o’clock this afternoon, when word went out that the body of the victim — identified by Mullins Family Funeral Home as 7-year-old Paul Luther Bowen — was found in the river, about a mile from where he went in. A prolonged attempt to revive him was not successful.

Kermit Fire Chief Wilburn Thomas Preece said rescuers did everything they could, to no avail.

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Authorities have not said how the incident occurred, and the identity of the family has not been released. The investigation is continuing.