PORT JERVIS – The Port Jervis Fire Department has had a busy several days with calls to the Delaware River.
Its Water Rescue/Dive Team was requested to respond to Pike and Water Streets just after 8 p.m. Saturday evening. A green kayak had been reported as free-floating, just south of the Mid-Delaware Bridge.
The Battalion 8 Water Rescue Team was requested and boats were launched from both sides of the river, recovering the kayak quickly. It had at that time been transported by the swift-flowing river to an area around Tri-State Rock. There was no one reported as missing or in need of help.
As boats and crews were leaving West End Beach following that response, another call was dispatched. This time, Pennsylvania rescue crews were requested to respond to the vicinity of Bob’s Beach. No further information was received on that call.
Just after midnight, a nighttime rescue took place near Number 2 Bridge in Sparrowbush. An individual was reported by two friends as having attempted to swim across the rain-swollen Delaware River. That individual instead was swept to Cherry Island and realized he was in need of rescue. The individual was safely rescued and returned to his campground.
After last week’s storms, the Port Jervis Fire Department crews carried out 30 pump outs and responded to six automatic alarms, a lengthy motor vehicle incident, and one late-night river rescue.
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