Search Expands For Missing NJ Boaters Who Capsized On Delaware River

WEST DEPTFORD, NJ — New Jersey State Police continue to search for two boaters who went missing after their boat capsized in Gloucester County last month.

Joseph P. McLaughlin, 24, and Brian S. Palangi, 26, both of Deptford, went missing after their boat capsized on Nov. 13, according to New Jersey State Police.

They have both been presumed dead, but a spokesman for New Jersey State Police told Patch on Wednesday that police continue surface searches for both men during the course of their regular patrols.

“The search are has expanded marginally to both up and down stream of the incident,” a spokesman said on Wednesday. “As calls for service allow, paid crews from West Deptford and National Park Fire Departments also continue searching.”

He said agencies on both sides of the river are aware of the searches, but underwater scanning has been discontinued due to the large amount of debris in the area.

A third man who was on the boat when it capsized near Red Bank Battlefield Park in National Park was rescued by good Samaritans, according to New Jersey State Police. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was treated and released.

The three men were on the river when the boat began taking on water before eventually capsizing, police said. The three boaters onboard went into the water and began swimming toward safety. However, McLaughlin and Palangi were caught up in swift currents and carried away, police said.

Friends have launched online fundraisers for the two missing men. Read more here: Friends Launch Fundraisers For Families Of Missing NJ Boaters