Saturday August, 6 2011 @ 15:42:57 Nature: Water Rescue Priority Location: ITAO Rusty Rudder Address: 100 - 199 Dickinson Ave Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 On Saturday, August 6th, the Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach and Indian River volunteer fire companies were alerted for a priority water rescue incident in the Rehoboth Bay in the area of the Rusty Rudder, Dickinson Avenue in Dewey Beach. The incident was reported to have a person overboard and in the water. Indian River was requested to launch its marine units from the Massey’s Landing Public Boat Ramp at the end of Long Neck Road. Emergency response units included 80 Marine 2; 80 Marine 3, Brush #80-0; Brush #80-00; Engine #80-5 and the Incident Command Unit. The Delaware State Police, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Agents, the Sussex County Paramedics were also included in the initial dispatch. Indian River’s vessels were provided longitude and latitude coordinates and responded to the vicinity of the incident. You may find additional information regarding this incident at the following websites: (1) The News-Journal – www.delawareonline.com Man dies after boat capsizes Pa. man was not wearing life vest when he drifted out A Pennsylvania man died Saturday in Sussex County after his sailboat capsized near Dewey Beach. James Lefever, 63, of Lancaster, was sailing in Rehoboth Bay when the boat tipped over and he struggled to right it, said Michael Globetti of the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. Another passenger on the small vessel managed to stay aboard, but Lefever became separated from the boat and drifted away, Globetti said. Lefever was unconscious in the water when emergency responders arrived and he was pronounced dead a short time later, Globetti said. The other passenger, who was not identified, was rescued and was unhurt. The incident occurred about a half mile off shore, and neither person was wearing a life jacket, Globetti said. DNREC's boating safety unit will investigate the incident, Globetti said. The cause of the capsizing is not yet known, but the boat did not appear to collide with anything, Globetti said. The state Medical Examiner's Office will determine Lefever's cause of death. "There's no indication he was struck by anything on the boat," Globetti said. Lefever's death is the third boating-related fatality in the state this year, with only one involving a collision. (2) WGMD Radio 92.7 website – www.wgmd.com http://www.wgmd.com/?p=31415 Body of Deceased Man Removed from Rehoboth Bay An unconscious man was discovered floating in the Rehoboth Bay late Saturday afternoon, and DNREC marine police are trying to determine what happened. The first call for help was received around 3:40 p.m. from several women onboard a pontoon boat southwest of Dewey Beach. They reported that they saw a Hobie Cat capsize and the man on board had not resurfaced. The women later found the man in the bay around 4:10 p.m. and called 9-1-1. They were unable to remove him from the water, but they remained with him until assistance arrived. A boat from the Delaware Marine Group came to assist. The men on board took the man to the Rehoboth Bay Marina ramp on Collins Avenue in Dewey Beach where Dewey Beach police, lifeguards, DNREC marine police, Rehoboth Beach fire/EMS personnel and county paramedics were waiting. The man was pronounced dead at the scene and placed in the ambulance which took him to Beebe Hospital. The medical examiner has been notified. Justin Redefer of the Delaware Marine Group said the actions of Jeffery Hertzog from the Delaware Marine Group went above and beyond. “He used one of our boats with one man from EMS. He helped lift the man out of the water [and] into the boat. Jeffery Hertzog and the individuals in the water holding the man until EMS arrived are outstanding. Thank God for people like them!” Early Saturday evening, Sgt. Gregory Rhodes, DNREC spokesman, said that this appears to be a boating fatality. If so, it would be the second in the state for 2011. The previous death took place Memorial Day Weekend. Sgt. Rhodes said the investigation is in its preliminary stages, but he added that investigators suspect the man had been on a sailboat in the bay when the incident happened. He would only identify the decedent as an adult male. Sgt. Rhodes says additional details will be released Monday after the next of kin have been notified.