26/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 26/08/2024 21:26
BUSHKILL, PA- This afternoon, National Park Service rangers and dive team members from Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River and rescue teams from Bushkill, Dingmans and Westfall Fire Departments, and Lehman Township EMS responded to a call from Pike County Dispatch regarding a drowning at Bushkill Access.
The call came in at 1:45 pm and rescue team members were on scene within minutes. At 3:07 pm, crews recovered the body of a 39-year-old New Jersey man about 20-30 feet from the shore in approximately 7 feet of water. According to witnesses, the man had been swimming in the Delaware River with his family when two children in the party began to struggle in the current. He was able to get the children to safety before succumbing to the current himself.
This is the second drowning in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area this summer. The first occurred on June 29.