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Early Morning Water Rescue
Sunday, March 5, 2023

On March 5, 2023 at just before 3:30am, A-15 was dispatched to the 1300 block of Officer's Row, in Fort Dupont, for an unknown medical problem. As the incident evolved, additional information reported that the patient drove a vehicle into the Branch Canal and were possibly children inside and the patient was muddy and wet. The incident was quickly upgraded to a water rescue bringing surface water and dive resources from across the county.

One set of tire tracks were observed in the mud on the launch ramp leading into the water. Fortunately it was near slack tide limiting the current but visibility in the canal was zero and water temperatures were in the low 40's. With the available information a rescue operation was initated. Rescue swimmers immediately made entry and performed a hasty search of the area around the launch ramp. Simultaneously Fireboat 15 utilized its side and downscan sonar to search the Branch Canal bottom while Trooper 4 performed a search from the air. Small boats from Delaware City and Port Penn were launched and performed a detailed search of the area along and banks and under area docks, also without result. Law enforcement were able to locate and account for the children who were safe. Without any sign of the vehicle, and with no reported additional patients, the search was terminated after approx. 2 hours and the scene was turned over to law enforcement.