Brad Nelson Says: There's a playspot in town on the Brandywine at high water Jim paddled there often ..... the office workers knew of him and would come out and watch or watch from the windows ..... a solid playboater ..... the big lethal mistake, he swam out of his boat, NO PFD, held onto a rock for a time, folks tried to help but could not reach him
Police identify 54-year kayaker who died in Brandywine
ByCris Barrish WHYY PBS Philadelphia
Update: September 24, 2018
The kayaker who drowned has been identified by police as
54-year-old James Battan. Police would not say confirm a published report that
Battan capsized after striking rocks in the rain-swollen waterway, saying that
was still being investigated. Battan’s obituary described the Wilmington native
as a “passionate kayaker” and avid outdoorsman and lover of nature and animals
who who had previously worked as a groundskeeper on a private estate.
An unidentified man drowned drowned Tuesday after his kayak
capsized in Brandywine Creek, police said. The fatal incident occurred about
12:40 p.m. in the river near the North Market Street Bridge, just outside the
central business district.
Officers, firefighters and paramedics who responded to a 911
call saw the victim being carried down the waterway by the swift current toward
the East 16th St. Bridge. Several civilians tried to get into the water to
rescue the man but needed the help of first responders to get back to shore.
An officer and a paramedic pulled the unresponsive man from
the water and began resuscitation efforts. He was taken to the nearby
Wilmington Hospital, and pronounced dead. Authorities said at 3:30 p.m. that
they not yet confirmed the kayaker’s identity.
Authorities also warned the public that entering fast-moving
water is dangerous and that those without proper training or equipment can
“very easily become victims.”
Kayaker Who Drowned In Brandywine River Identified By Police
September 21, 2018 - by Staff Writer
UPDATE: The victim in the kayaking incident in the
Brandywine River has been identified as James Battan, 54-years-old, of
Wilmington. The Medical Examiner’s Office has preliminary concluded that the
victim’s cause of death was due to drowning, according to police.
Shortly before 12:30 this afternoon, Tuesday, September 18,
2018, Wilmington Firefighters from the D platoon were alerted to an unresponsive
man in the Brandywine River, initially in the area of Superfine Lane and Race
Street, according to Battalion Chief John Looney.
Looney said the Incident Commander, Deputy Chief James Jobes
arrived on scene and was advised by Wilmington Police Officers (WPD) that
victim was moving down river towards E.16th Street Bridge.
The first fire department unit to arrive was Squad 4, which
is equipped with swift water rescue equipment and personnel trained for such
incidents. Squad 4 personnel quickly donned their wet suits for entry. Several
civilians were witnessed getting in the river to make rescue attempts only to
be assisted getting out by fire department personnel.
Additional fire department units arriving positioned
themselves down river to assist with removing victim from riverbank and
searched for any other victims. The victim was located along the river banks in
the area of E.16th Street Bridge. New Castle County Paramedics initiated
emergency medical care, assisted by the Wilmington Fire Department, WPD and St.
Francis EMS.
The scene was placed under control at 1:15 by Incident
Commander, Deputy Chief James Jobes. There were no other civilian or
firefighter injuries reported. The man
was transported to a local hospital where was pronounced dead.
