Saturday June, 29 2013 @ 07:54:34

Nature: Water Rescue Priority 1

Location: Indian River Inlet - South

Address: 26939 Coastal Hwy Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

Water Rescue Incident - Indian River Inlet - south side

On Saturday morning, June 29th, the Indian River and Rehoboth Beach fire companies were alerted to assist Bethany Beach Fire Company with a water rescue priority assignment. It was reported a person was last known to be in the water off of the south side of the Indian River Inlet near the bath house facility.

Emergency response units from Indian River included Brush #80-0 with 80 Marine 2; and Utility 80-8 with 80 Marine 1 and were to launch from the Massey’s Landing Public Boat Ramp.

Indian River (80) and Rehoboth Beach (86) emergency response units were cancelled while responding and Lewes (82) Fire Department was activated for a marine unit response.

Additional information may be obtained by viewing the below illustrated links to the following websites:

(1) WBOC TV

http://www.wboc.com/story/22721160/search-for-missing-man-in-bethany-beach

Search for Missing Man in Bethany Beach

BETHANY BEACH, Del. - Crews are searching for a missing man in Bethany Beach.

According to the Sussex County Emergency Center, units from Bethany Beach, the U.S. Coast Guard, Delaware State Police, DNREC and other departments are searching the water from the inlet to the ocean in Bethany Beach, just south of the Indian River Inlet Bridge.

An emergency center spokesperson says crews are stationed at Seashore State Park.

We're also told from emergency officials that calls came in about a person in the water. They say the person is estimated to be in his 30's.

A Sussex County Emergency Center spokesperson says this is still a rescue operation.

(2) News-Journal  

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20130629/NEWS01/306290056/Search-underway-swimmer-missing-near-Indian-River-Inlet

Search underway for swimmer missing near Indian River Inlet

Written by The News Journal

Rescue crews are continuing to search the area near Indian River Inlet this afternoon for a swimmer who was pulled under the water early this morning.

The New York man, believed to be in his early 30s, was swimming with two other people off the beach in Delaware Seashore State Park south of the inlet about 7:30 a.m. when they began to have difficulties, said Wayne Kline, chief of enforcement for Delaware State Parks.

The other two made it back to shore and called 911 at 7:53 a.m., Kline said.

He identified the missing man as Jeff King of Jordanville, N.Y. He said King’s family members were in the area at the time.

Bethany Beach firefighters were conducting rescue training nearby and began looking for King within a minute of the 911 call, Kline said.

They were soon joined by Coast Guard and state police helicopters, state fish and wildlife police, Lewes firefighters and state park lifeguards who were arriving for work.

The Coast Guard and state park officers are continuing the search this afternoon.

The beach was unguarded at the time King went missing, Kline said. Lifeguards are on duty from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

The National Weather Service had predicted moderate rip currents for Delaware beaches this morning.

(3) New Journal Update – July 5, 2013

• http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20130706/NEWS05/307060012/Body-found-near-IR-Inlet

Body found near IR Inlet

Written by the News Journal

The body of a man was recovered from the water Friday morning about a mile north of Indian River Inlet after it was spotted floating by some boaters.

Steve Tull, of Felton, said he was out fishing in Lewes early Friday with two friends. The group was headed down to the inlet when he made the discovery.

“We saw a bunch of dolphins first and then saw what I thought was a dead dolphin 300 yards away,” Tull said.

When he pulled the boat up to the location, he realized it was the body of a man and called a friend who is a game warden.

State troopers, along with state Fish & Wildlife officers, then went to the area where the body was spotted about 10:12 a.m. and brought it back to the U.S. Coast Guard Station, said Master Cpl. Gary Fournier.

“We helped them to get him into their boat, and followed behind to the Coast Guard Station,” Tull said.

The body was then turned over to the state Medical Examiner’s Office for identification and to determine the cause of death.

It is not known if the body is that of a New York man missing since June 29 when he went under off the beach at Delaware Seashore State Park, south of the inlet, said Wayne Kline, chief of enforcement for Delaware State Parks.

But he said they have not received any other missing persons reports.

The swimmer, identified as Jeff King, of Jordanville, N.Y., was swimming with two others on the unguarded beach when the trio began having difficulties, Kline said.

Two of the men made it back to shore and called 911.

A full-scale search was launched for King by Bethany Beach firefighters, state park officers and state Fish & Wildlife officers to no avail.