National Parks Service searches Delaware River for possible drowning victim
Police said on Sunday afternoon, a caller on the Pennsylvania side of the river reported seeing a man go underwater and not come back up. Since then, the search has been extensive, even though there has not been a missing person report filed yet.
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Scuba crews and air crews spent much of Sunday evening and Monday searching a stretch of the Delaware River for a possible drowning victim.
New York State Police has been helping the National Parks Service scour the Delaware River just north of Port Jervis for an adult male that might have been pulled under the water's surface.
Police said that on Sunday afternoon, there were a lot of swimmers and kayakers near Cherry Island.
They said a caller on the Pennsylvania side of the river reported seeing a man go underwater and not come back up.
Since then, the search has been extensive, even though there has not been a missing person report filed yet.
Kristen Jensen, who was at Sparrow Bush Beach to pick up a group of young canoers, could not help but notice the commotion.
"Yeah, it's so sad. I don't like hearing that," she said, "especially since the kids are out there, you know?"
Their instructors told News 12 the kids prepared for weeks before taking the trip down the river, and each life jacket is custom-fitted.
Considering the river's fast currents and the history of drownings along this stretch of the river, the young people did not even start out training in the river.
Instructor Glen Shenkman said it is important to take baby steps to learn the basics before taking on the Delaware.
"They've been practicing safety procedures on the lake with our lake counselors," he said, "and absolutely, safety is our number one priority out on the water."
Police are not completely sure the river swept anyone away.
State police and the National Parks Service have been working off the call from the Pennsylvania resident.
The Parks Service has not returned calls asking whether the search will be called off.
State police said its scuba crews were told Monday afternoon they were no longer needed to assist in the search.
