captnemo
09-06-2009, 02:17 PM
Maybe some of you folks heard about this guy. He was trying to do someone a favor and recover equipment that was lost in the water. The current there is extremely strong. I didn't know him, but talked to some of the responders who were there. Very tragic story, thoughts and prayers for his family.
http://www.app.com/article/20090905/NEWS/90905031/-1/FRONTTABS01/Authorities+search+for+missing+diver+in+the+Highla nds
Body recovered of missing diver in Highlands
By Matthew McGrath (mmcgrath@ad.gannett.com) • STAFF WRITER • September 5, 2009
HIGHLANDS — The body of a dock worker, who was diving in the waters off the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge for a missing piece of equipment, was recovered by search crews late Saturday afternoon, the State Police reported.
The body of the man was pulled from the floor of the Shrewsbury River by State Police divers, almost six hours after authorities began their search.
The man was Robert Renner, 42, of Highlands, according to family and friends who were gathered at the picnic area between Bahr's Landing and Moby's at the foot of the bridge. They kept vigil along the river bank during the afternoon as authorities searched for Renner.
"He was on the bottom, and we were able to easily bring him up," said Maj. Ed. Cetnar, State Police special operations commander. "What happened to him, I just do not know."
The area where Renner was diving is filled with debris, and it is notorious for swift currents, said Mark McColgan, a charter boat captain whose boat slip was next to Renner's for three years.
"You can't even drop an anchor there," McColgan said.
The rescue dive was especially dangerous for the state police, who needed to wait for a lull in the tide to dive, Maj. Ed Cetnar said. It was a break that did not come until more than four hours after Renner went missing.
In addition to the debris and visibly swift currents, the bridge also makes the area more dangerous by creating vortexes in the water, Cetnar said.
Crowd's gathered at the foot of the bridge to watch authorities, including the State Police, Coast Guard, Highlands and Atlantic Highlands police and fire officials, circle the mouth of the Shrewsbury River for hours. They started their search about 11:45 a.m. State Police helicopters did the same.
Renner did not tell anyone in his family that he was going to dive for the construction equipment that fell from the bridge earlier in the week, said Canio Paradiso, Renner's brother-in-law.
Renner, a professional dock builder, was a member of the crew building a 65-foot fixed span bridge to replace the 75-year-old, 35-foot drawbridge, Paradiso said.
The state Department of Transportation's general contractor on the $124.5 million project is J. H. Reid of South Plainfield. Representatives from J.H. Reid did not return a telephone message this afternoon.
Renner was apparently not working at the time of the accident, State Police spokesman Sgt. Stephen Jones said in a telephone interview. He was on a boat with two other people at the time of the accident, Jones said.
"He was doing someone a favor," Jones said.
State police at the scene would not confirm Renner's name, his employer or what he was doing diving near the bridge.
"The investigation is ongoing," said Lt. Dennis Tully, commander of the State Police Marine Services Unit.
An autopsy will be performed, but a date was not set, Tully said
http://www.app.com/article/20090905/NEWS/90905031/-1/FRONTTABS01/Authorities+search+for+missing+diver+in+the+Highla nds
Body recovered of missing diver in Highlands
By Matthew McGrath (mmcgrath@ad.gannett.com) • STAFF WRITER • September 5, 2009
HIGHLANDS — The body of a dock worker, who was diving in the waters off the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge for a missing piece of equipment, was recovered by search crews late Saturday afternoon, the State Police reported.
The body of the man was pulled from the floor of the Shrewsbury River by State Police divers, almost six hours after authorities began their search.
The man was Robert Renner, 42, of Highlands, according to family and friends who were gathered at the picnic area between Bahr's Landing and Moby's at the foot of the bridge. They kept vigil along the river bank during the afternoon as authorities searched for Renner.
"He was on the bottom, and we were able to easily bring him up," said Maj. Ed. Cetnar, State Police special operations commander. "What happened to him, I just do not know."
The area where Renner was diving is filled with debris, and it is notorious for swift currents, said Mark McColgan, a charter boat captain whose boat slip was next to Renner's for three years.
"You can't even drop an anchor there," McColgan said.
The rescue dive was especially dangerous for the state police, who needed to wait for a lull in the tide to dive, Maj. Ed Cetnar said. It was a break that did not come until more than four hours after Renner went missing.
In addition to the debris and visibly swift currents, the bridge also makes the area more dangerous by creating vortexes in the water, Cetnar said.
Crowd's gathered at the foot of the bridge to watch authorities, including the State Police, Coast Guard, Highlands and Atlantic Highlands police and fire officials, circle the mouth of the Shrewsbury River for hours. They started their search about 11:45 a.m. State Police helicopters did the same.
Renner did not tell anyone in his family that he was going to dive for the construction equipment that fell from the bridge earlier in the week, said Canio Paradiso, Renner's brother-in-law.
Renner, a professional dock builder, was a member of the crew building a 65-foot fixed span bridge to replace the 75-year-old, 35-foot drawbridge, Paradiso said.
The state Department of Transportation's general contractor on the $124.5 million project is J. H. Reid of South Plainfield. Representatives from J.H. Reid did not return a telephone message this afternoon.
Renner was apparently not working at the time of the accident, State Police spokesman Sgt. Stephen Jones said in a telephone interview. He was on a boat with two other people at the time of the accident, Jones said.
"He was doing someone a favor," Jones said.
State police at the scene would not confirm Renner's name, his employer or what he was doing diving near the bridge.
"The investigation is ongoing," said Lt. Dennis Tully, commander of the State Police Marine Services Unit.
An autopsy will be performed, but a date was not set, Tully said