Portland, Pa. Staten Island man drowns in Delaware River

| 09 Jul 2019 | 09:46

    At around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9, search and rescue and dive teams from the National Park Service and the Portland Hook and Ladder Company recovered the body of a 20-year-old Staten Island man who was last seen swimming in the Delaware River near the Karamac Bridge abutments at around 4 p.m.
    Christopher I. Rivera was on a rafting trip when he stopped to swim. Other members of his group saw him struggle in the current before going under the water. He was not wearing a life jacket.
    Park rangers from the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area remind all river users to wear a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket at all times whether swimming, floating, fishing, or boating on the Delaware River. The current can be swift and strong, despite the calm appearance. River depths can change rapidly, going from knee-deep to over your head in a single step. Wearing a life jacket can save your life.