Man Who Fell Into Big Timber Creek Presumed Dead: Officials

Update, 9:15 p.m. Wednesday: Efforts to find and rescue a man who fell into Big Timber Creek have shifted to a recovery operation, indicating that officials believe he is likely dead.

Emergency crews shifted the focus to finding the man's remains as of 8 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management.

The man was performing contractor services on a residential property earlier Wednesday when he lost footing on an embankment, fell into the creek and never resurfaced.

His identity has not been released as of this writing.

WESTVILLE, NJ — A large-scale search is underway after a man fell into Big Timber Creek and never resurfaced, authorities said late Wednesday afternoon.

The man was performing contracting services for a residential property, according to the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management. He lost footing on an embankment and fell into the creek in Westville.

The search is still underway as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, officials said.

Dive teams from three counties are assisting in the search effort with multiple police, fire and emergency-medical departments at the scene.

Edgewater Avenue is closed from Twedell Avenue to Edgewater Avenue and Almonesson Road for the active investigation as of this writing.

Big Timber Creek connects to the Delaware River between Westville and Brooklawn before splitting into two branches that run through Camden and Gloucester counties.

The search comes during a stretch of stormy weather. Additionally, patches of fog are predicted Wednesday night with a chance of thunderstorms on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

The waterway may also flood early Thursday, according to a coastal flood advisory in effect from 2-7 a.m.

Water in the creek is running at about 57 degrees on Wednesday, according to Tideschart — cold enough for people to experience shock and lose control of their breathing.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.