Teams continue to search for missing swimmer in Jacobs Creek
Rescue workers continued the search for a missing swimmer on Wednesday in Jacobs Creek.
State police Trooper Robert Broadwater said sometime Tuesday evening a group of four individuals were at the local swimming hole. Authorities have not yet released the name of the missing person.
鈥淭here蘑菇视频 evidence that proves that this individual went in, and no one saw him come out,鈥� Broadwater said. 鈥淪o that蘑菇视频 why it蘑菇视频 a missing person.鈥�
He said the the creek was a mile and a half from the roadway and with no cellular service, so someone had to backtrack to get service.
Broadwater said the remote area at the creek is on the border of Fayette and Westmoreland counties.
Following the 911 call, swift water rescue workers and dive teams responded to the scene everywhere from Greensburg to Brownsville.
鈥淭hey came from all over the place,鈥� Broadwater said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 even keep track.鈥�
Broadwater said the search went on until nearly midnight because of the terrain. An earlier downpour caused the water to rise and create difficult conditions to continue the search.
The lead department is Turkeytown Volunteer Fire Department out of South Huntingdon Township where a briefing to resume the search took place Wednesday morning.
Joel Koricich, the chief of Collinsburg Volunteer Fire Company as well as an instructor and trainer for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and Water Rescue, warned the firefighters to stay hydrated, slippery conditions of the land, be aware of snakes and poison ivy and also be aware of the cold water of the creek that is deep in some spots at the morning temperatures were in the lower to mid 50s.
鈥淵ou have a minute to get your breath, and you have about 10 minutes of meaningful movement and you have about one hour of survival time,鈥� Koricich said about immersion in the cold water, adding that survival time was for someone equipped with a PFD life vest. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 have a PFD, your survival time is probably under two or three minutes.鈥�