Firefighers Spend All Night On The Schuylkill River In Gladwyne For A Water Rescue

Shortly after 1030pm Station 24 dispatched to assist Lower Merion Police at Flat Rock Park for a water rescue. LMPD advised a subject jumped into the river. Upon arrival LMPD provided a report to rescue crews. Station 45 (Spring Mill Fire Company) was dispatched to assist on the Whitemarsh Township side of the River. Penn Wynne Fire Company was dispatched to assist at the scene in Lower Merion with Rescue 21 and their water rescue support personnel. Philadelphia PD and FD were dispatched to respond as well. Boats 24-1, 24-2 and 24-3 were immediately launched (with LMPD officers in each boats) to place a marking buoy at the last known spot the victim was seen above water by LMPD officers. The boats then perform a search of the river / river banks for the victim, without success. Philadelphia Police Department Tac Air was searching by air above utilizing spot lights and thermal imaging, also without success. Dive rescue teams were dispatched from Telford Dive Rescue (Montgomery 64) and Phoenixville Dive Rescue (Chester County 77). Spring Mill Fire Company also assembled their dive team while on scene and initiated a diver search at the point the victim was last seen at the surface. Upon arrival of Telford and Phoenixville they utilized Telford's boat and Phoenixville's underwater camera system to assist in the search. In the early morning hours one of Spring Mill's Divers located the victim at the bottom of the river. Spring Mill divers brought the victim to the surface and Crews from Gladwyne and Spring Mill brought the victim to the shore.

In total, there was 7 boats deployed during this incident (3 Gladwyne, 2 Spring Mill, 1 Philadelphia Fire Department and 1 Telford Dive Rescue boat).

Rescue crews were on scene from 2230 hrs until 0400 hours. Everybody who was operating at the scene did an Excellent job during this difficult rescue.

We would like to THANK all of our mutual aid partners who assisted in this incident.