Bodies of four-year-old boy and his five-year-old sister are recovered after flash flood

‘Everybody that I’ve talked to has been in continuous prayer for this family,’ says Johnston County sheriff Steve Bizzell

North Carolina rescue crews have recovered the bodies of a four-year-old boy and his five-year-old sister, who died after they were swept away in a flash flood in the state earlier this week.

Four-year-old Abraham Martinez Jr and five-year-old Alexa Castro went missing on Monday after the car their mother was driving was swept away in Smithfield, North Carolina, with the pair still inside.

The children’s mother Vanessa Castro called the authorities on Monday to say that her car had been overtaken by water, and four boats of first responders were sent out to help, according to NBC News.

When they arrived at the scene, the first responders were able to rescue Ms Castro and Alexa temporarily, but the car capsized when the current proved too strong and they lost the five-year-old along with Abraham.

Johnston County sheriff Steve Bizzell told reporters on Thursday that first responders were unable to rescue the children on Monday as their boats also capsized, leading Ms Castro to be taken to hospital for treatment.

He said: “The water was so raging the other night, it was throwing the boats up against the trees,” and added: “We’re fortunate that we had no loss of life for first responders the other night.”

On Thursday morning, following three days of searching, Mr Bizzell confirmed that Abraham’s body had been recovered by rescue crews in a creek near Neuse River.

The recovery came 12 hours after crews had found his sister Alexa’s body 30 yards away in a shallow part of the creek, according to the Daily Mail.

After Alexa’s body was discovered on Wednesday at around 4:30pm, members of the rescue crews formed a prayer circle by the side of the river.

Speaking to WTVD on Thursday morning, Mr Bizzell said: “I can’t imagine either the emotions of the family, of the heartbreak, the hurt, the devastation. It’s been tough on myself; it’s been tough on the deputies.”

He added: “Everybody that I’ve talked to has been in continuous prayer for this family, these kids.”

The sheriff said that he hopes the recovery of the bodies will help children’s parents to find some closure, and added: “We can find some comfort in knowing that they’re in a better place today than we are.”

Ms Castro has been discharged from hospital, and loved ones told WRAL that she is doing well physically.