A man who authorities were searching for along the Delaware River Saturday evening was found deceased.
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The incident began around 6:10 p.m. when there was a report of a drowning in the cove at Biles Island in Falls Township.
According to police, the 37-year-old Trenton man had been swimming in the cove along with three friends when the 37-year-old man and another man were suddenly caught in a strong current. The 37-year-old man and his friend were pulled out in the river.
Acting quickly, a nearby boater threw the one man a float and successfully brought the man safety to shore, while the 37-year-old man was unable to be rescued, police said.
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When the boater returned to rescue the 37-year-old man, he witnessed him submerge beneath the water’s surface, police said.
Bucks County firefighters with boats went into the water, along with New Jersey State Police and the Trenton Fire Department dive team.
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At approximately 7:30 p.m., the body of the 37-year-old man was found in the river.
Following the recovery, the victim was rushed to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton where doctors declared him dead at 8 p.m.
The National Park Service offered safety tips for rivers:
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Rivers and streams can appear calm on the surface but there may be:
- Strong undercurrents that can pull under even a strong and experienced swimmer
- Strainers (branches that act like a sieve and keeps people/ boats/ gear from passing through) and blockages such as trees, debris, etc. that can cause you to become trapped underwater or pinned against the object
- Narrow gaps between rocks that can trap you under water
- A slippery and uneven bottom that can make it easy to lose your footing
- Unstable riverbank, especially during and after floods and heavy rain.
Water moving in a river or stream is called a current and can pose risks:
- Currents can be powerful even if the top of the water looks calm.
- In as little as six inches of water, there can be currents strong enough to knock you off your feet and sweep you downstream.
- In summer, water levels can rise quickly and without notice from heavy rain or snow melting in nearby mountains.
- Do not underestimate the power of currents and overestimate your swimming abilities.
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