Sunday October, 13 2024 @ 04:00

Nature: Water Rescue Priority 1

Location: 32424 River Rd Millsboro, DE 19966

Early Sunday morning, October 13^th, the Indian River (80), Millsboro (83), and Dagsboro (73) volunteer fire companies were alerted for a water rescue priority incident.  Additional emergency alerts included the Mid Sussex Rescue Squad, the Sussex County Paramedics, the Delaware State Police Ground Units and Aviation Unit (Trooper 2), United States Coast Guard – Indian River Squadron USCG and Aviation Unit from Atlantic City.  It was reported to be a 17 year old male subject was on the pier and now gone, cellphone and clothes found on pier.

Emergency response units from Indian River included Utility 80-8 with 80 Marine 1 from the Oak Orchard facility and Brush 80-0 and 80 Marine 2 from the Long Neck facility as well as the Incident Command Unit.  Indian River and Millsboro (83) marine units responded and launched from the Gull Point area and the Dagsboro (73) marine unit launched from the Vines Creek area.    

Emergency response crew assignments included a response to the Riverdale Park beach area and commence with a shoreline search from the Chiefs Road area to Mercer Road area including all docks, piers, etc.  The marine units utilized a combination of side scanning sonar, FLIR infrared camera, and spotlights and an aerial drone to search the respective grid areas.  All units searched from the shoreline to the middle of the bay area.  The aviation units evaluated the Indian River Bay area upwards to Warwick Cove while USCG boats focused in the channel areas.  The grounds units canvased immediate areas around the public beach area as well as side streets in the Oak Orchard-Riverdale Park area.

All fire and rescue marine resources completed their grid search patterns and relinquished incident command to the United States Coast Guard units and the Delaware State Police units to continue the efforts. 

The United States Coast Guard and Delaware State Police aviation units continued search efforts for most the mid-morning time frame.

The Delaware State Police confirmed that individual was located in an apartment in the 32000 block of River Road.

Additional information regarding the incident may be viewed via the following website:

• WBOC News - https://www.wboc.com/news/missing-teen-found-on-land-after-crews-search-indian-river-bay/article_3aca1c4c-8977-11ef-a18a-2b21e53aca22.html