News Release

Recovery Made of Local Fisherman from the Delaware River

Date: September 22, 2022
Contact: Ingrid Peterec, 570-493-1020

On September 19, 2022, at approximately 2:00pm the body of the fisherman who went missing on Wednesday, September 8^th was located in the Delaware River in New Jersey by the NY State Police helicopter crew. This brings to a close an 11-day search for the missing fisherman.

In the early morning hours of September 8^th, the boat of two fisherman capsized near Cherry Island in the Delaware River. One fisherman made it to shore. The NY State Police as well as Sparrowbush, Port Jervis, and Matamoras Fire Departments and Swift Water Rescue Teams from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania assisted with the search for the second fisherman.  Upper Delaware S&RR Law Enforcement Rangers continued to search the Delaware River daily both within the park boundary and south in the river to the 206 bridge in Matamoras, PA.

When the river reads over six feet at the Barryville Gage properly fitted life jackets are required for all boaters and fisherman for stretches of the river south of Narrowsburg and for stretches of the river north of Narrowsburg the Callicoon Gage must read six feet and above. River levels are unpredictable. Heavy rainfall can cause the river to rise quickly and with increased river speed.  As a reminder, life jackets can’t be secured in boats or used to tie vessels together. The USGS provides river conditions for the Delaware River at https://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/ny/nwis/rt.  

The National Park Service reminds everyone that may be out on the Upper Delaware River this fall or winter in a boat, canoe, or kayak that each person, regardless of age is required to wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket during these cold weather months. The Cold Water Life Jacket Wear regulation is in effect from November 1^st through April 30^th.   Remember the life you save may be your own.