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Rescuers Search Delaware River Following Report of Possible Body Sighting

This article is a direct street report from our correspondent and has not been edited by the 1st Responder newsroom.

PORT JERVIS, NY - Water rescue volunteers from five fire departments scoured a section of the Delaware River on the morning of May 11th, investigating a report of a possible body floating in the water below the Route 84 bridge near Tri-State Rock. Despite an extensive search from the PA to NY shores of a stretch of the river, from the bridge to Kittatinny River Beach Campground in Milford, PA, only a floating white sign was recovered.

Port Jervis Fire Department Deputy Chief (DC1) James Rohner operated Command just below the bridge, directing operations with fellow Orange County Deputy Chief John Tunney and other emergency personnel on scene.

Rohner said an individual driving on the bridge above the river Wednesday morning had reported spotting something white bobbing in the water within view of the bridge. Rohner said one can never be too cautious on such a situation and, rightfully, the good-intentioned individual reported what was believed to be a white tee-shirt on a floating body.

A dispatch was sounded at 8:33 A.M. for a water rescue in the area of Laurel Grove Cemetery, which extends along the Delaware River in Port Jervis. This section of river features swiftly flowing water and steady rapids. It also marks a spot where NY, NJ and PA meet, and the Delaware and Neversink Rivers join near a monument known as Tri-State Rock.

Upon Rohner’s arrival on scene, Orange County, NY’s Battalion 8 Water Rescue Team was activated with boats and divers entering points along river access areas. This included Matamoras Landing and River Beach Campground, PA.

Battalion 8 members Port Jervis, Sparrowbush and Huguenot, assisted by units from Westfall and Matamoras, Pennsylvania, conducted a thorough search before returning to quarters mid-morning.

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SHARON SIEGELSenior Correspondent

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