Pocono News Section

River Search Called Off Near Tunkhannock

River Search Called Off Near Tunkhannock - Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 10:00PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Thursday, Jul 30, 2009 @ 10:00pm EST
TUNKHANNOCK, WYOMING COUNTY- Dive teams from all over Wyoming County were on the move Thursday afternoon. They were called out after concerns that two young boys had overturned in a raft in the Susquehanna River near Tunkhannock.

The search began around 2:00 P. M. It lasted for nearly two hours and wrapped up just after 4:00 P. M. The search involved dozens of first responders from all over Wyoming County.

Eyewitness News was there as the first search boats hit the water. Officials say they received reports that two young boys who were about 8 or 9 were on the water and struggling.

Crews became concerned because they then found a raft similar in description to the one the boys were in abandoned on the side of the river. Crews scoured miles of the river looking for clues. They used hovercrafts and small boats while a state police helicopter was in the air.

After a short time police and dive teams realized the boat that they found belonged to a family in the area and had been beached there for a while and was not related to the boys.

After they didn't get any reports of missing children officials decided that the boys made it out of the water safely and there was no need to continue the search.

There was also additional concern on the water because it was extremely fast and rough after WednesdayÕs heavy rain.

Crews say they're happy no one was hurt and called the exercise extremely good practice.