POTTSTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Crews in Pottstown have pulled a body from the Schuylkill River while searching for a man whose fishing boat capsized Sunday night.
Around 12:15 Monday afternoon, PA Fish and Boat Commission officials said crews pulled a body from the river. The search had been underway since Sunday night, after first responders got a call that a motorized boat had flipped over on the Schuylkill River by the Keim Street Bridge.
There were two people on the boat. Officials said one of them managed to get to shore safely, but the other person did not.
The bridge, which connects Pottstown with North Coventry Township in Chester County, is in the process of being rebuilt. There are large pipes below the bridge where water from the Schuylkill is flowing, so authorities were concerned that the man may have gotten caught in them.
Adding to the challenge was the high water level, which was moving fast due to the recent rain.
The search had been suspended between 2 a.m. and 10 a.m. Monday, due to conditions, but resumed later that morning. Crews had to brave the elements, dealing with fast-moving, high water levels caused by recent rain.
A large search effort ensued with crews from Montgomery, Chester and Berks counties, along with Pennsylvania State Police.
Mike Parker with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the agency leading the investigation, said, “depending on the situation, our officers would provide some preliminary information in a report within a day or two.”
Parker emphasized the importance of safety precautions on the water.
“Wearing a life jacket, following the regulations, never boating under the influence, and being familiar with the waterway and what kind of hazards are along the way, too, it’s very important.”