Coast Guard suspends search for man ejected from Jet Ski on Delaware River
TRENTON, N.J. (WPVI) -- The Coast Guard has suspended its search for a man who disappeared in the Delaware River after his Jet Ski ran aground near the Trenton boat ramp.
The man is identified as Jesus Diaz Melendez, 26, of Trenton, New Jersey.
The Coast Guard suspended its search efforts at 11:11 p.m. Saturday.
"The Coast Guard and other agencies saturated the search area, but unfortunately was unable to locate the missing man," said Chief Warrant Officer Jacob Gerasimof, the command duty officer during the case. "It is always a difficult decision to suspend a search for a confirmed person in the water. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the loved ones affected by this terrible tragedy."
The accident was reported at 7:07 p.m. Saturday in the river off the 1600 block of Lamberton Street. The Jet Ski was recovered late Saturday night.
Coast Guard officials say Melendez and another man were on the Jet Ski when they lost control and went into the water.
"The Trenton Fire Department got dispatched for two victims in the water. They were playing on a Jet Ski, and they flipped it over," said Trenton Fire Department Battalion Chief Steven Coltre.
The men were not wearing life jackets, officials say.
Coltre says the crew of the A.J. Meerwald, who was out on the water, was able to rescue one of the victims, but Melendez did not resurface.
"One victim was able to be pulled out by a boat, and then we were actively looking for another victim," said Coltre.
The boat crew picked up the jet skier who confirmed his friend was ejected from the Jet Ski.
Local departments will continue to search for Melendez.
