NYC Man Drowns In Delaware

By Jim Davis

LUMBERLAND, NY — A Jamaica, Queens man was swept from his raft in the swift-flowing Delaware River on Sunday afternoon, and drowned. His body was recovered on Wednesday afternoon.

According to the New York State Police, Hin Siu, 36, was rafting with three friends near Staircase Rapids, about two miles upstream from Mill Rift, when all four were ejected from the raft into the violently churning river.

National Park Service workers arrived quickly at the scene, but not in time to save Siu, who disappeared under the waves.

Divers from Orange and Sullivan Counties in New York, as well as from Westfall, Matamoras, and Mill Rift Fire Departments in Pike County, were dispatched to the scene, first in an effort to rescue Siu and then to attempt to locate and recover his body.

Siu was not wearing a life jacket when he was thrown from his raft. His body was recovered near Eddy Farms, just above Port Jervis, early on Wednesday afternoon.

Seven Dead from Drowning in Area Waters

National Park Service Urges Safety Precautions

By Susan Koomar

BUSHKILL – The cool waters of the Poconos are tempting but also potentially deadly – and it’s ultimately up to swimmers, boaters and fisherman to take responsibility for their own safety.

This summer’s drowning tally is seven so far. Three people have died in a little over two months in Lake Wallenpaupack. Four men have drowned in or near the Delaware River.

Some of those who died decided to take a dip while boating or tubing. Don’t do it without a life jacket, say officials. Eighty percent of recreational boating fatalities happen to people who don’t wear a life jacket, according to the PA Fish and Boat Commission.

Boating safety information is available online at www.fish.state.pa.us/faqboat.htm

Fish and Boat Commission officers patrol Lake Wallenpaupack regularly include two boat patrols every Saturday and Sunday. But it’s impossible to monitor all 52 miles of shoreline of Pennsylvania’s largest lake.

A recent regional report from the commission notes that boaters – even those on private community lakes – must have a Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket on board for every person. A “throwable” flotation device such as a seat cushion is not sufficient. All life jackets must be in good condition and legibly marked with a Coast Guard approval number.

Most sections of the Delaware River look deceptively calm. The dangers are often unseen – swift currents that can quickly incapacitate unsuspecting swimmers. Another chronic problem, according to officials, is swimmers – often young men – who overestimate their ability and attempt to swim across the river. Further, people who are used to swimming in the relatively warm water of a pool are often literally shocked by the cold water of the area’s river, lakes and streams which can produce hypothermia or hypothermia-like conditions within minutes.

The National Park Service has deployed a summer intern to popular swimming spots to warn visitors of potential danger.

At least five people died in the Sullivan County, NY section of the Delaware last year. None wore a life jacket.

Here is a summary of recent fatalities:

Delaware River

Gustavo Brito, 29, of New Jersey, drowned while swimming in Damascus Township, Wayne Township on July 26.

William Lawrence, 53, of South Brunswick, N.J., fell from an inner tube near Portland, Northampton County on July 19.

Venatesh Sankar, 27, of Jersey City, N.J., was swimming in Adams Creek of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area north of Dingmans Ferry on July 3. Sankar drowned trying to help a friend in distress.

Brian Lynch, 18, of Phillipsburg, N.J., died after jumping off a bridge in Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County on May 25.

Lake Wallenpaupack

John Carvajal, 48, of Union County, N.J., was last seen swimming off a boat on July 18. His body was recovered August1.

Holly Ann Steffens-Cox, 28, of Hawley, was seen wandering from a beached boat near the PPL Environmental Center. Divers found her body a day later on June 30.

George R. Barbito, 54, of Tafton, went fishing near Cove Cottage Marina off Route 507. His body was recovered on May 5.

Drowning in Upper Delaware

DAMASCUS – A day of fun turned tragic on the Upper Delaware River when a tourist died in the river’s sometimes deceptive currents.

According to Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Mike Brown, 29-year-old Gustavo Brito was visiting the river near the Soaring Eagle Campgrounds in Wayne County’s Damascus Township on July 26 when a casual morning swim with friends turned fatal.

“The victim began having trouble with the current of the river,” said Brown. “The victim’s friends tried to help him but he went under and didn’t come back up.”

Rescue personnel from the Damascus Fire Department located the body approximately 40-feet from shore in 10-feet of water. Brito was pronounced dead at the scene.

Drowning Victim Still Missing in Lake Wallenpaupack

By Pat Camuso

TAFTON – The victim of a tragic swimming accident on Lake Wallenpaupack has yet to be found despite concerted recovery efforts and many rumors to the contrary.

According to incident coordinator Jon Castimore of Tafton Fire & Rescue, as of Monday afternoon, July 8, John J. Carvajal, a 48-year-old man from Union County, New Jersey, is still missing and presumed drowned after he jumped in for a swim from the back of a pleasure boat on Saturday, July 18.

According to the PA State Police in Honesdale, investigators have confirmed through witnesses on the day of the incident that the man was indeed a passenger on the boat that day during the time in question and they have no reason to suspect any foul-play.

Carvajal went missing in an area about 500-yards off-shore; just west of Epply Island and east of the PPL power dam where water depths range between 40 and 50-feet.

Castimore explained that despite the efforts of countless volunteers along with federal (FBI sonar gear) and state (aerial reconnaissance) assistance for five full days, the body has yet to be located.

He explained that at this point all underwater searches have ceased in part because of the continuous strain on dive crews and, according to Castimore, hazardous conditions on the lake’s floor.

Castimore stressed that the body has not been recovered and the Pike County Press will be notified immediately when it is. He said that careless rumors to the contrary can only serve to further hurt a grieving family looking to bring closure to this tragedy.

Castimore says that surface patrols are continuing with personnel and water craft from the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, Tafton Fire & Rescue as well as “Lake Watch” volunteers.

Speaking on behalf of all his fellow volunteers, Castimore offered his sincere condolences to the Carvajal’s family. “We all feel bad,” he said. “We wish we could have done more for the family.”

Wallenpaupack Drowning Now A Recovery Effort: Update 13, August 1

LAKE WALLENPAUPACK  Sunday July 19  What started Saturday morning  July 18 on the quiet waters of Lake Wallenpaupack as a family outing  became an extensive rescue effort by area dive teams to locate a submerged swimmer.

This morning, that rescue effort will continue as an effort to recover the man’s body.  Area dive teams worked for over seven hours Saturday to find the man who had been swimming off of a private boat. Recovery efforts resumed at 8AM this morning.

UPDATE Sunday July 19 8:00 PM Area dive teams led by  the Tafton Fire Department were unsuccessful in their attempts to locate the missing, as yet unidentified man. His family is reportedly in the area but not at the scene. Earlier  today, a helicopter was used over the search area in the continuing attempt to find the man, now reported to have been 45 years old.

UPDATE 2 MondayJuly 20 11:20AM Area dive teams continue the search this morning, including the Port Jervis (NY) Dive Team. The teams are searching areas which cadaver dogs on boats hit on yesterday with no results reported as yet.

UPDATE 3 Monday July 20 1:20 PM According to Assistant Chief Jim Fuller of the Port Jervis, NY Dive Team, divers are also coming from Picatinny Arsenal (NJ), Jefferson Township (NJ), and the FBI is also responding with sonar equipment. Conditions are described as extremely murky, with poor visibility in approximately forty feet of water.

UPDATE 4 Monday July 20 6:15 PM  Search personnel brought witnesses back to the reported location of Saturday’s drowning in an attempt to better define the search area. The search has proven unsuccessful thus far despite the efforts of dozens of search and rescue personnel.

UPDATE 5 Tuesday July 21 12:05 PM The search effort continues into its fourth day. We will continue to post updates as we receive and get information on this story.

UPDATE 6 Tuesday  July 21 2:10  PM A Pennsylvania State Police helicopter and underwater sonar gear from the Federal Bureau of Investigation are being used to assist in the still fruitless search. Several possible areas of concern have been located in this manner and divers are in the process of checking them out. The search continues.

UPDATE 7 Wednesday July 22 12:50 PM The Pennsylvania State Police, Honesdale Barracks has just issued a press release identifying the possible drowning victim as John J. Carvajal, a 48 year old White Hispanic male from Union County, New Jersey. The release indicates that Carvajal got in some kind of trouble and went under water. A family friend entered the water in an attempt to help but was unsuccessful.

The press release goes on to state that “a nearly continuous search has been underway and to date no recovery has been made. An extensive amount of resources have been utilized…”

At least twenty-six agencies have been involved in the search.

UPDATE 8 Thursday July 23 8:40 AM Tafton Fire Chief Pete Rucci reports that the search efforts are being scaled back. He states the there will morning flyovers of Lake Wallenpaupack and regular boat patrols of the area. All dive search efforts to date have proven fruitless.

UPDATE 9 Saturday July 25 11:40 AM It has now been one week since the fruitless attempt to locate  John J. Carvajal began. Originally a rescue attempt, sadly it has turned into a recovery. That recovery effort has, however, mobilized the efforts of literally dozens of agencies from three states, hundreds of personnel, and aditionally the Pennsylvania State Police and the FBI.

UPDATE 10 Monday July 27 4:20 PM The Pike County Press has just spoken with the Honesdale Barracks of the Pennsylvania State Police, which reports that they have no reason to suspect foul play in this case. This would seem to eliminate the possibility that the victim is anywhere but in Lake Wallenpaupack.

We are in possession of a book entitled “Wallenpaupack” which has many photos of the construction of the lake. Readers are cautioned that construction methods when the lake was built were far different than they are today. Forests, power lines and even buildings which were not removed can be seen slowly being covered by the rising waters.

In a conversation this reporter had last week with Roger Maltby, Pike Count EMA  Coordinator, Maltby stated that the area which was being searched is indeed one of the standing forests.

UPDATE 11 Wednesday July 29 3:45 PM According to incident coordinator Jon Castimore of Tafton Fire & Rescue Carvajal is still missing and presumed drowned after he jumped in for a swim from the back of a pleasure boat on Saturday July 18.Carvajal has not been found, and a limited recovery search has been underway since late Wednesday, July 22.

Castimore stressed that the body has not been recovered and the Pike County Press will be notified immediately when it is. He said that careless rumors to the contrary can only serve to further hurt a grieving family looking to bring closure to this tragedy.

Castimore says that surface patrols are continuing with personnel and water craft from the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, Tafton Fire & Rescue as well as “Lake Watch” volunteers.

Speaking on behalf of all his fellow volunteers, Castimore offered his sincere condolences to the Carvajal family. “We all feel bad,” he said. “We wish we could have done more for the family.”

UPDATE 12   July 31  The Pike County Press has just spoken with Chief Peter Rucci of the Tafton Fire Department who relates that there has been some increased activity on Lake Wallenpaupack today which is based not on any specific information, but rather the offer of another agency to lend assisstance with another type of search  equipment not  previously utilized. ” We are not going to give up, and we will use available resources to further the search.”  He also stressed that there is no reason whatsoever to believe that this was anything but an accidental drowning.

UPDATE 13 August 1 The Pennsylvania State Police report that an unidentified body was recovered today from Lake Wallenpaupack. No identification has been made pending an autopsy, but the body is believed to be that of John J. Carvajal, who has been missing and presumed drowned since he went swimming on Saturday, July 18.

Click on this link for our original story and updates:   http://pikecountypress.com/wordpress/2009/07/18/possible-drowning-reported-at-wallenpaupack/

Possible Drowning Reported at Wallenpaupack

LAKE WALLENPAUPACK   Saturday July 18  11:45AM  Area dive teams are responding to an assembly point at First Class Marina near Wilsonville to search for a man, reportedly around 49 years old, who is reported to have fallen off of a boat and possibly drowned.

The Pike County Press has a reporter on the way, and we will provide additional information as it becomes available.

If this possible drowning is confirmed, it will  be the second in Lake  Wallenpaupack in recent weeks.

UPDATE: Saturday July 18, 12:30 PM. According to our reporter on the scene, the background seems to be that the man was swimming off the boat and disaapeared.

We will have more information as it becomes available.

UPDATE: Saturday July 18 1:50 PM. At least six rescue boats and three dive teams are searching the area between the dam and Eppy Island.