8-year-old girl drowns while trying to save brother in Kagoshima river
Tuesday 29th April, 07:29 PM JST
KAGOSHIMA —
An 8-year-old girl drowned Tuesday while trying to save her 7-year-old brother who had fallen into a river in Hishikaricho, Kagoshima Prefecture. According to police, the two children were playing on the bank of the Sendai River about 9:40 a.m. The slanted concrete embankment is covered with moss, and police said that the boy, Ryuya Aratake, lost his footing and fell into the water. His sister, Ruri, apparently dived him after him.
Some high school students who were nearby said they heard shouts but could only see the boy’s head and Ruri’s hands. They pulled him out and called police. Ruri’s body was found about one hour later in 2-meter-deep water.
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Latest 15 of 40 Total Comments Show All
Everton2 at 07:41 AM JST - 30th April
She is a Lionheart
DXXJP at 08:07 AM JST - 30th April
This is not just a tragic accident. As there is no info on the parents or where they were its pretty easy to assume they were off getting lit BSing around the hibachi. Just go to the beach how many kids are in the water unsupervised. In fact go anywhere there should be close parental supervision and you wont see to much of it.
rjd_jr at 08:08 AM JST - 30th April
I just read an article about a mother in another country who was driving with her daughter and the car careened into a river or body of water. She managed to escape, while her daughter was trapped inside and the car filling with water. She made it to the bank and there she repeatedy told onlookers that her daughter was trapped. Finally a complete stranger dove into the water to save the girl.
Now here's what I find striking with this story. This 8 year old girl, raised by parents in a Japanese society that is supposedly negligent and uncaring towards their young, took it upon herself to try and save her brother. She performed a heroic act that countless adults anywhere in the world would not even do. So, that alone defeats the notion that parenting is bad in Japan, as this brave girl must have been raised by some mighty fine parents to have such an amazing character.
Rest in peace little girl.
Blue_Tiger at 12:08 PM JST - 30th April
What kind of Love did this young girl show for her brother!!! My goodness, this girl dearly loved her brother insomuch that she jumpedi n to try and save him!! Whwen I heard this story on the 9 o'clock news last night, I nearly cried! Here is a nexception, at least, to what I've seen with regards to parenting and raising children in Japan!! This little girl was taught rightly: to look to others before herself! Prasie the LORD for such an example!!!! Though her family has suffered a terrible loss, I know that this young lady is in heaven!!!!
Tricknsam at 01:55 PM JST - 30th April
This girl is a hero! In todays! world there are very few. Even among the power politicans you can find known. But this little girl did good! and God! in the end has blessed her endeavor.
Seek not the gold! of the world but seek the truth and goodness! that God! gave us. In the future all will slaves to evil!, so every good! deed done should be honored.
usaexpat at 11:24 PM JST - 30th April
Jerome I appreciate your passion on the subject but while you have a brain as you say what you do not have are children so you are not qualified to judge.
JeromeInJapan at 12:50 AM JST - 1st May
And who are you to judge and say in your own judgement that I am not qualified to judge?
keech2 at 06:16 AM JST - 1st May
I am quite impressed that the daughter instinctively saved the son, knowing that in this present society he was more important than she. It is a wonderful example of sororital devotion to her brother. She learned to put her brother before herself. Her parents taught her right. When I read this story, my heart swelled with respect for this young lady. I know that in this world SOCIETY will praise her. Her actions will forever be enshrined as data flying around the INTERNET.
pizzaboy at 06:47 PM JST - 1st May
smartacas is correct! This hero girl must have amazing parents who instilled proper survival values into their children.
westurn at 12:25 AM JST - 2nd May
Hmm,
"This hero girl must have amazing parents who instilled proper survival values into their children."
Sorry, I somehow doubt it. I'm more inclined to think that the girl was scared out of her wits and simply jumped in without thinking ! I did the same thing when I was 9 ! Ran through fire to get my dog... didn't feel a thing ! God bless this little girl !
kuriyama at 09:17 AM JST - 2nd May
I think it's a bit rash to point the finger at the parents. As a parent of a seven & eight year old myself I can not imagine the pain they are going through.
I don't know, but chances are these two kids walked along this riverbank everyday on their way to school / shops / juku... and one mis-step and this tragedy has befallen the entire family.
Mum, Dad, Brother, Grandparents - everyone will carry this for the rest of their days and under-informed strangers standing in judgement will only make that burden greater...
Smythe at 11:36 AM JST - 2nd May
No matter how you look at it, something like this, really hits the heart of any sensible human. Makes you pause a bit & give it more thought as to why, how, & just so much more.
No one wants to see or hear/read about the death of a child for any reason.
Yes that is my feeling even as an old bachelor all these years.
gamecat at 12:52 AM JST - 3rd May
This story is brutal. Heart-breaking. Poor little ones!
Happens too much here.
romulus3 at 09:55 AM JST - 3rd May
I hope that boy makes something of his life in memory of his sisters brave attempted sacrifice.
flammenwerfer at 09:47 AM JST - 6th May
When are parents in ANY country going to learn........
3-4 and year olds yes but these two were 7-8, at that age they can have a bit of freedom to play. When I was 7 or 8, I was playing near creeks and rivers, climbing trees, swing from vines, climbing small hills and little cliffs...all unsupervised - shock horror my parents were terribly negligent weren't they? Some of you posters need to get real, sometimes accidents happen and can't live you whole life in cotton wool.
anyway this is tragic and my thoughts go out to the family.
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