Monday July, 7 2025 @ 13:06

Nature: Water Rescue Priority 1

Location: 38°36'20.02"N and 075°05'20.01"W  - Millville

On Monday, July 7th, the Indian River (80), Bethany Beach (70) and Dagsboro (73) volunteer fire companies were alerted to assist Millville (84) with a water rescue priority 1 incident.  Additional emergency alerts included the Sussex County Paramedics, the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit – Trooper 2, the DNREC Marine Police and the United States Coast Guard – Indian River Squadron.  It was reported to be a blue kayak floating with no one on board. 

Emergency response units from Indian River included Brush 80 with 80 Marine 2 from the Long Neck facility, Tanker 80 from the Oak Orchard facility as well as the Delaware State Fire Police.  Indian River units launched from the Massey’s Landing Public Boat Ramp.

Emergency response crew assignments were to launch and navigate to Millville Incident Command for designated assignments. 

It appears that a blue kayak with water bottle and brown shoes was found floating in the Indian River Bay.  Many of the emergency vessels responded to a designated area for specific grid search assignments as well as fielding concerned citizen reports in Pot Nets Seaside and Ocean View area. 

Grid search patterns were coordinated from Massey’s Landing area south to Ocean View / Bethany Beach area as well as west towards Holts Landing.  The aviation units were down due to weather conditions.  Many hard to access areas were evaluated via jet ski if tide conditions permitted.

The Delaware State Fire Police coordinated the closure of the respective public ramps to allow for the launching and return of the emergency response vessels.

All emergency response units were authorized to return to their respective quarters after much of the grid searches were completed with negative results.  DNREC and the USCG vessels remained to continue their evaluations.