At 7:12 pm, Cherry Hill Firefighters were dispatched to a water rescue assignment at the Cooper River across from 202 Park Blvd. The caller reported seeing a male enter the river about 30 feet and swiftly disappear underwater. First arriving fire units conferred with Camden County Park Police, who showed them the exact location the male went into the river and where he was last seen. The on-duty battalion chief quickly ordered more units to search and utilized marine units from Cherry Hill, Collingswood, Pennsauken & Westmont while support crews walked the shoreline from all points.
Additionally, the Cherry Hill Fire Department Rescue team initiated a shore based rescue effort with rescue personnel in full water rescue equipment, walking in the murky water while on a tether line from shore. This effort began in the location where the victim was last seen above water. As additional personnel were added, the search grid was expanded and it was a shore-based, tethered crew that discovered the victim approximately 30 yards from his point of entry, about an hour after rescuers first arrived. The victim was recovered from the water using a water rescue "Stokes Basket". This incident is under investigation.
Photos provided by Curt Hudson
