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buckethead
09-02-2008, 04:19 PM
Terrible tragedy. Hopefully they will be found.

SALEM, N.J. -- Anguished family members waited for word Tuesday after two men went missing while fishing in New Jersey.

The Coast Guard (http://www.nbc10.com/topic/U.S.+Coast+Guard) and local authorities searched for two men, who were last seen near the Route 49 Bridge in the Salem River (http://www.nbc10.com/topic/Salem+River) near Salem. The Coast Guard said the rescue has now turned into a recovery.


But Pennsville (http://www.nbc10.com/topic/Pennsville) police, like families watching from the bridge, were still holding out hope as a half-dozen rescue boats kept looking.

Missing are Gerald Lewis (http://www.nbc10.com/topic/Gerald+Lewis), 33, and Larry Preston (http://www.nbc10.com/topic/Larry+Preston), 37, both of Salem.

The Coast Guard received a call at 2:10 a.m. from a member of Salem County emergency dispatch reporting two people missing who were fishing from the Route 49 Bridge in the Salem River.

Family members said the two went fishing around 10 p.m. Monday and did not return home. Their van was still parked by the bridge.

The Coast Guard searched all night but has not found anything.

Neeshia Smith said she just hopes her father, Gerald Lewis, is fighting to stay alive somewhere out there in the fast-moving Salem River.

When Lewis and best friend Preston decided to put down their fishing poles and take a swim in the dark, John Smack was fishing nearby and called 911.

Smack said he heard both men in distress out in the dark waters and then heard nothing.

dogfish
09-03-2008, 10:54 AM
Sounds like they were being careless. Tragedy just the same. Any word on these guys?

rockhopper
09-04-2008, 08:41 PM
They found them this morning.

Sep 4, 2008 5:00 pm US/Eastern
Bodies Of Missing N.J. Fishermen Recovered

SALEM, N.J. (CBS 3) ― The bodies of two New Jersey fishermen who went missing after diving into the Salem River were recovered Thursday morning.

After days of searching for 33-year-old Gerald Lewis and 38-year-old Larry Preston, who disappeared from the Route 49 Bridge in Salem, a passerby spotted their bodies at about 7:30 a.m. Thursday near Barber's Basin.

After being retrieved by the U.S. Coast Guard, the medical examiner's office transported the bodies to Underwood Memorial Hospital to undergo an autopsy.

The men disappeared after plunging into the dark, murky water at about 10 p.m. on Labor Day.

Fellow fisherman said Lewis and Preston were discussing who was a better swimmer before climbing onto a cement pylon on the bridge and jumping into water.

Witness Johnny Smack said once in the water, he heard panic in the men's voices and dialed 911.

"I said, 'Two guys just jumped into the water and I lost sight of them, I can't hear them anymore,'" he said. "I wish I could have done more."

Officials urged residents to stay out of the water as currents in the Salem River can be dangerously strong, especially as the tide rises.

williehookem
09-05-2008, 09:08 AM
A little innocent fun turned deadly. Can happen anytime to anyone. RIP

stormchaser
09-07-2008, 04:09 PM
Thoughts and prayers to the family.