UPDATE: Rescue crews called off their search of the Delaware River for Christopher Schofield on Wednesday at around 5:00 p.m. and will resume the search Thursday morning.
DELAWARE WATER GAP NATIONAL RECERATION AREA – Authorities are engaged in a search for a missing swimmer who was reported to be struggling in the water while attempting to swim across the Delaware River near Prices Landing at around 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
Christopher Schofield, 23, of Stroudsburg was attempting to swim across the river with two other people when he began struggling in the current which is particularly swift in this section of the Delaware, authorities said.
Schofield was last seen going under water just above the old bridge abutments about a half-mile upstream from the Interstate 80 toll bridge. The other two swimmers made it to the New Jersey shore and were later rescued by volunteer rescue team members, authorities said.
None of the three swimmers were wearing a life jacket, authorities said.
The combined search crews will continue to scour the Delaware River, both above and below the surface, throughout Wednesday using ground and river surface searches, divers, side scan sonar, and a cadaver dog, authorities said.
Crews will reassess search operations at the end of the day if no recovery is made. Crews are also keeping an eye on the weather which could affect the safety of rescuers. In the event of foul weather, the search will be suspended temporarily until conditions are again deemed safe, authorities said.
Prices Landing is a privately owned property with several homes along the Delaware River in East Stroudsburg, PA, near Minisink Hills.
National Park Service rangers and dive team members from Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, staff from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and volunteers from the Portland Hook and Ladder Company, Knowlton Township Fire and Rescue Company, and Pennsylvania Search and Rescue Recovery Team (SARRT) are assisting in the search.
