A boating trip on the Lehigh River turned into a dramatic island rescue Tuesday afternoon when police say his boat drifted away and the man became stranded.
Bethlehem Township Police Cpl. Patrick Brehm told lehighvalleylive.com the incident began at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday when emergency workers were called to the township’s Hope Boat Launch.
A caller reported being separated from his boat in the Lehigh River. The caller attempted unsuccessfully to swim after the vessel and swam to an island in the river instead, Brehm said.
The man needed to be rescued off the island, in the vicinity of Farmersville Road at Wilson Avenue, he said.
Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Company and Nancy Run Fire Company crews rescued the man. The crews were already at the scene when police arrived, Brehm said.
The man’s boat was later recovered from the river.
Additionally, a pair of Good Samaritans who attempted to aid the victim also needed assistance in the river, Brehm said.
There were no reported injuries in the incident.
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