UPDATE: The victim in the kayaking incident in the Brandywine River has been identified as James Battan, 54-years-old, of Wilmington. The Medical Examiner’s Office has preliminary concluded that the victim’s cause of death was due to drowning, according to police.
Original Story
Shortly before 12:30 this afternoon, Tuesday, September 18, 2018, Wilmington Firefighters from the D platoon were alerted to an unresponsive man in the Brandywine River, initially in the area of Superfine Lane and Race Street, according to Battalion Chief John Looney.
Looney said the Incident Commander, Deputy Chief James Jobes arrived on scene and was advised by Wilmington Police Officers (WPD) that victim was moving down river towards E.16th Street Bridge.
The first fire department unit to arrive was Squad 4, which is equipped with swift water rescue equipment and personnel trained for such incidents. Squad 4 personnel quickly donned their wet suits for entry. Several civilians were witnessed getting in the river to make rescue attempts only to be assisted getting out by fire department personnel.
Additional fire department units arriving positioned themselves down river to assist with removing victim from riverbank and searched for any other victims. The victim was located along the river banks in the area of E.16th Street Bridge. New Castle County Paramedics initiated emergency medical care, assisted by the Wilmington Fire Department, WPD and St. Francis EMS.
The scene was placed under control at 1:15 by Incident Commander, Deputy Chief James Jobes. There were no other civilian or firefighter injuries reported.
The man was transported to a local hospital where was pronounced dead.
