FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2024

On Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at 5:39 pm, Delaware City Fire Company, New Castle County Paramedics, and New Castle County Police Department were dispatched to the intersection of Delilah Drive and N. Gabriel Drive, in the Estates of Red Lion, for a reported drowning.  As New Castle County 911 Center call takers obtained further information from the caller who reported a 7 year old male in the pond, the New Castle County Surface Water Rescue Team and New Castle County Dive Team were also added to the response.  Responders arrived within 8 minutes to find bystanders, including an off-duty firefighter, in the water searching for the victim.  Water rescue trained firefighters immediately entered the water and began a coordinated search based on the information provided by witnesses.  The search included rescuers searching the water in the retaining pond, the shoreline, and utilizing a drone to search the pond and surrounding area from the air.  The victim was located submerged in a deep section of the retaining pond by rescue swimmers within 30 minutes of arriving on scene and was removed to the care of Emergency Medical Services personnel.  Resuscitative efforts were initiated on scene by Delaware City Fire Company ambulance personnel and New Castle County Paramedics and continued throughout transport to Christiana Hospital.  Regretfully the resuscitative efforts were not successful and the patient was later pronounced deceased at Christiana Hospital.  New Castle County Police Department detectives are investigating the incident and Past Chief Jamie Rosseel had Delaware City Command.

The Officers and Members of Delaware City Fire Company would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family of the victim and everyone involved.  Tragedies such as this impact not only the family of the victim but also the first responders and bystanders.  Following the incident, the New Castle County Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team was contacted and conducted a debriefing for the responders.  Our department will continued to monitor those involved and offer further mental health resources as needed.  New Castle County Police Department’s Victim Services Unit has been in contact with the victim’s family as well as bystanders to offer support as well.

Responding Agencies:

New Castle County Paramedics

New Castle County Dive Team

New Castle County Surface Water Rescue Team

Port Penn Fire Company

Good Will Fire Company

Holloway Terrace Fire Company

Townsend Fire Company

Minquas Fire Company

Delaware State Fire School (drone)