Jet skiers rescued in storm

TORRESDALE (WPVI) -- The storm almost claimed three men on the Delaware River Tuesday afternoon in the Torresdale section of Philadelphia.

28-year-old Adriano Golvecens of Northeast Philadelphia says it was a nice sunny afternoon. He and two of his friends were out jet skiing on the Delaware near Pleasant Hill Park. Suddenly, he somehow fell off.

"I dumped off the jet ski and lost the key and that's when I called for help. [There was] no power, can't start the jet ski," Golvecens said.

Golvecens called a friend at home to come over with another jet ski and bring him a spare key. But on the way to help, his friend's jet ski broke down.

"He was supposed to help them, but the engine failed, broke down and just got stuck in the water," friend Vincent Camargo said.

Suddenly, the storm moved through with high winds and heavy rains. That's when they realized they were in big trouble.

"And it starts raining and lightning so he's kind of worried," Camargo said.

The winds proved to be more than they could handle as they waited for the Philadelphia Police Marine Unit to arrive.

The jet ski that was supposed to help capsized and the occupant was thrown into the river. Fortunately, the Marine Unit arrived on the scene with plenty of time to bring them all back safely to shore.

"Thank God they are OK, everybody is fine, everybody is smiling now," Camargo said.

Adriano Golvecens was just glad he had his cell phone with him.

"If I didn't have my cell phone, I'd die," Golvecens said.

The group says they were not monitoring the forecast and had no idea severe weather was on the way.