PAULSBORO, N.J. — The Coast Guard suspended its search at 9 p.m. Monday for an unconfirmed person in the Delaware River here.
Gloucester County Police Department contacted watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay in Philadelphia at approximately 5 p.m. reporting two conflicting stories from two separate good Samaritans.
The first report was of an 18-year-old male who fell into the water when the pier he was on collapsed. The second was a report of a boat colliding with a pier, and the person aboard went into the water as the boat sank.
Two 25-foot Response Boat – Small crews from Coast Guard Station Philadelphia, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, crews from Gloucester County Fire Department and New Jersey State Police were on scene searching for the unconfirmed person.
“The Coast Guard treated this unconfirmed report as a confirmed incident and diverted a helicopter and two RB-S’ to the scene, along with Gloucester County Fire Department crews, within 15 minutes, although we had conflicting reports,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Stacy Slavinski, a watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay.
The Coast Guard will continue its urgent marine information broadcast throughout the night, and assist the New Jersey State Police as necessary as they take lead of the incident.
