Body Of Union Co. Teen Recovered In Delaware River By Dive Team: NPS

UNION COUNTY, NJ — A 14-year-old boy from Elizabeth was found dead in the Delaware River on Sunday afternoon, according to the National Park Service.

Members of the National Park Service dive team recovered the body of a teenage boy from the river at around 3:30 p.m. The boy was swimming at the Ames-Jennings site — a small picnic area on the New Jersey side of the park — when family members saw him go under the water, according to the NPS.

The NPS received an emergency call at around 2:15 p.m. on Sunday from the child's family.

Providers and officers from Blue Ridge Rescue Squad, Sandyston Township Volunteer Fire Department, Bushkill Volunteer Fire Department, Bushkill EMS, NJ State Police and Sussex County also assisted in the search and recovery.

This is the second drowning in the park this year, according to the NPS. A 23-year-old Stroudsburg man drowned in June while attempting to swim across the Delaware River.

Neither victim was wearing a lifejacket, the NPS said.

“Our hearts and our deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of the victims of these tragic incidents,” said Dustin Gunderson, dive team leader. “We can’t say it enough: wearing a properly fitted and fastened life jacket is the number one way that folks can keep themselves safe while swimming in the Delaware River."

Out of 103 drownings in the park since 1971, 64 percent were related to swimming and none of the victims were wearing a properly fitted and fastened lifejacket at the time of their death, according to the NPS. Additionally, 24 percent of all drownings have occurred during the last two weeks of July when temperatures and visitation are both high, the NPS said.

The Delaware River has a swift current and an uneven bottom making it easy for one to suddenly get in over their heads and get caught in the swift current below the surface, the NPS said.

In addition to wearing a life jacket, park rangers and emergency service providers suggest that those seeking a break from the heat near the river stay near shore in shallower water. They also advise people to avoid swimming near rapids, swim at lifeguarded beaches and always assign someone to keep an eye on everyone in your party who is in the water, especially children.

The NPS provides free “loaner” lifejackets for children to use while swimming at Milford, Smithfield and Turtle Beaches.