NJ teen drowns in Delaware River; second death in park this summer

WALPACK — The physique of a 14-year-old Elizabeth boy was recovered from the Delaware River early Sunday night after his household noticed him disappear beneath the floor earlier within the afternoon.

Officers from the Delaware Water Hole Nationwide Recreation Space didn’t launch the title of the youth, however stated he was on an outing together with his household close to the Ames-Jennings website, a small space used for picnics alongside the New Jersey aspect of the river, north of the Walpak Bend and about two miles south of the “grime part” of Outdated Mine Street.

Members of the Nationwide Park Service dive group at Delaware Water Hole Nationwide Recreation Space recovered the physique at round 3:30 p.m., simply over an hour after the household made an emergency name that members of the family noticed him go beneath the water.

Along with emergency response groups from the NPS,  search and restoration operations received assist from the Blue Ridge Rescue Squad, Sandyston Township Volunteer Hearth Division, NJ State Police and Sussex County in addition to the Bushkill Volunteer Hearth Division and Bushkill EMS, from the Pennsylvania aspect of the river.

This was the second drowning within the park this yr.  Earlier in the summertime, a Pennsylvania teenager disappeared whereas making an attempt to swim from the Pennsylvania aspect of the river to the New Jersey aspect simply north of the Interstate 80 bridge. Neither sufferer was sporting a lifejacket.  

“Our hearts and our deepest sympathies exit to the household and associates of the victims of those tragic incidents,” stated Dustin Gunderson, dive group chief.  “We are able to’t say it sufficient: sporting a correctly fitted and mounted life jacket is the primary method that people can hold themselves secure whereas swimming within the Delaware River.”  

Out of 103 drownings within the park since 1971, 64% had been associated to swimming and not one of the victims was sporting a correctly fitted and mounted lifejacket on the time of their loss of life.  Twenty-four p.c of all drownings have occurred over the last 2 weeks of July when temperatures are excessive and the realm has a lot of guests.

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Park officers stated the Delaware River has a swift present and an uneven backside, making it simple for individuals to all of a sudden get in over their heads and get caught within the swift present under the floor.  

Along with sporting a life jacket, park rangers and emergency service suppliers counsel that these in search of a break from the warmth close to the river keep close to shore in shallower water; keep away from swimming close to rapids; swim at lifeguarded seashores; and all the time assign somebody to keep watch over everybody of their occasion who’s within the water, particularly youngsters.