EASTON, PA — The body of a middle-aged man was recovered late Wednesday, July 24, who had reportedly drowned on Saturday, July 20, in the Delaware River.
According to the eyewitnesses, Louis A. Cosenza was last seen floating in an inflatable tube before disappearing underwater.
Similarly, 42-year-old Darnell Dogan, who was fishing in the Delaware River near Northeast Philadelphia, was found dead after he was pulled from the water on Thursday, July 25.
Just weeks before this incident, 53-year-old Gary Conley drowned while he was tubing. Although people were able to rescue him out of the water, he passed away in the hospital shortly after.
These are not isolated cases for the Delaware River. There have been more than 103 deaths due to drowning in the Delaware River between 1970-2022, as last reported by the Pocono Record.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning was the cause of death for more than 4500 people between 2020-2022 in the United States.
This has stirred up the conversation regarding the risks of swimming in the river, as officials urged for more safety guidance and precautions.
With each drowning incident, especially in the Delaware River, the victim is reportedly not wearing a life jacket.
According to the National Park Service website, there have been no drowning incidents of people properly wearing life jackets while engaging in water activities in the river.
The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area has consistently warned visitors about the importance of wearing a life vest.
“Everyone, regardless of age, is required to have a life jacket within reach when boating, paddling, tubing, or on any other vessel while in or on the river,” said the Recreation Area on their Facebook page.
“People don’t always think about wearing a life jacket when they are swimming, but with the river’s swift current, steep drop-offs, rapid changes in depth, and underwater hazards, park rangers recommend that everyone wear a properly fitted and fastened life jacket when swimming, floating, fishing, or boating on, or in, the Delaware River,” National Park Service Spokesperson Kathleen Sandt told the Pocono Record in 2022.
In addition to wearing a life jacket, the National Park Service provides guidelines on how to stay safe on the river, including checking the weather and river conditions, wearing the right clothes, staying on public lands, and drinking water.
For more safety information, visit the National Park Service website.
