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Body of infant swept away in NC flood waters, recovered

Facebook/Union County Sheriff's Office NC
Kaiden-Lee Welch

Searchers have recovered the body of one year old Kaiden Lee-Welch.  Emergency workers found Kaiden shortly after 10 a.m. Monday morning.

Search and rescue teams spent several hours Sunday night searching for the missing one year old child, Kaiden Lee-Welch, who was swept away in rushing waters from Richardson Creek on N.C. 218. Search efforts resumed Monday morning. Union County Sheriff’s detectives believe the child and his mother were traveling east on N.C. 218 going toward Wadesboro. The mother drove around the barricades on N.C. 218 and continued traveling east until her vehicle encountered rushing water flowing across the road. Her vehicle left the roadway and came to rest amongst a group of trees. She managed to free herself and Kaiden, who was in a car seat, but lost her grip on him in the rushing water.

Numerous search crews and swift water rescue teams worked to find Kaiden.  Authorities warn the public that the area along N.C. 218 remains a hazard due to flooding. In a statement posted on the Facebook, The Union County Sheriff’s Office said “Our thoughts and prayers for the little boy’s family and all the search team members and law enforcement officers who helped in this matter. Very sad situation."

A spokesman for Sheriff Eddie Cathey said there was another weather related death of of man reported on Landsford Road earlier today. At least 18 people have died in storm-related incidents.