SPARROWBUSH, NY – Westfall and Matamoras Fire Departments in Pike County, PA and Battalion 8 Water Rescue Team (Port Jervis, Sparrowbush, Huguenot, Cuddebackville) in Orange County, NY was activated to respond from both sides of the Delaware River on the Fourth of July to rescue subjects in the water from an overturned raft.  This call was among several in recent days for assistance on local waterways.

The July 4^th overturned raft call for help was received by emergency communications dispatchers at approximately 1:30 p.m. Several individuals, at least one being a non-swimmer without a life jacket, was reported to be in the water. Moments later the information was updated as the non-swimmer having gone under the water and missing.

Boats and emergency responders were launched from several locations along the river. Rescuers were able to quickly locate and assist two of the subjects to safety. The distraught individuals reported the third person as still missing.

Fortunately for the missing individual, five local young women spotted him in the water about a mile down river and were able to rescue him. The five, all wearing proper life jackets, had been enjoying a day of tubing on the river together when they first started noticing rescue boats on the river. One had called her father, a Port Jervis, NY fireman, to ask what was going on and had been informed about the rescue call and missing rafter. The women therefore immediately realized that this could be the individual they were seeing in the water.

The five tubers, Anna, Ciara, Jenna, Madison, and Reagan, paddled to the subject, formed a tube circle around him, and helped him securely hold on to their tubes for delivery back to shore. 

Officials and locals who know the stretch of the river near Cherry Island where the raft overturned, say any change in the timing and circumstances of this incident, even split seconds or inches in location, could have resulted in a tragically different outcome. The Delaware River, while it may look calm and shallow, officials warn, is powerful. The river is known to have extremely deep pockets, rapidly changing currents and flow, and deceivingly dangerous topography and rapids. 

National Park Service staff, as well as water operations teams from communities all along the Delaware River, warn continuously that life jackets are an absolute must for anyone enjoying the recreational opportunities the otherwise pristine, popular waterway offers. A non-swimmer without a life jacket, as in this situation, could tragically bring a recovery rather than rescue at any time – as is sadly part of this beautiful river’s history.

 GREAT JOB in this particular outcome local responders, and citizen rescuers!