Parsippany Man Who Drowned In Delaware River Identified

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A Morris County man is dead after drowning in the Delaware River in Pennsylvania, according to the National Park Service.

On Tuesday, just after 4 p.m., Delaware Water Gap National Park rangers were called to the park’s Kittatinny Point picnic area on a reported drowning.

Officials pulled Fausto Berrezueta Morquecho, 30, of Parsippany, out of the water. According to the rangers, the man had been swimming with his family at the time of the incident.

Officials said Morquecho “tired while attempting to swim across the river” before he went under the 17-foot depths. He was not wearing a life jacket, according to rangers.

“The NPS reminds all river users to wear a properly-fitted, US Coast Guard-approved life jacket while swimming, floating, fishing, or boating on the Delaware River,” a National Park Service statement read.

According to the National Park Service, roughly two people drown each year in the Upper Delaware River region. Officials added that nobody who was wearing a life jacket had ever drowned in the river.

“While the river may look serene and peaceful, looks can be deceiving,” officials said. “The current is often stronger than it appears, and conditions are constantly changing. New obstacles can emerge after high water events or be invisible from the surface. Moving water can be very dangerous and can still be quite cold even on a warm day, leading to shock.”