2 Bodies Retrieved from Delaware River
KYW Newsradio Team Coverage
This morning, nearly two days after a tour boat was struck and sank in the Delaware River, two bodies were seen floating in the river. One was recovered immediately but the second disappeared for five hours before being recovered.
KYW's Al Novack reports that a female body was found floating in the Delaware River near the Walt Whitman Bridge about 4:30 this morning.
It was retrieved by the US Coast Guard and delivered to the medical examiner's office.
KYW's Mike Dunn reports that later in the day the medical examiner verified that the body was that of 16-year-old Dora Schwendtner, one of two Hungarian tourists who disappeared when the duck boat was rammed by a barge and sank Wednesday afternoon on the Delaware River (see related stories).
The ID was made after some of those who were with her in the tour group identified personal effects, such as jewelry, found on the body.
An autopsy was performed and the medical examiner determined that the cause of death was drowning.
According to the health department, the US Coast Guard is now working with Hungarian officials -- who are in touch with the girl's family in Hungary -- to arrange for the transportation of the body back to the girl's home.
KYW's John McDevitt reports that as a barge crane moved into place about 10am this morning above the sunken wreckage of Wednesday's duck boat accident, a second body was seen floating nearby.
But police divers soon lost sight of the second body and were trying to determine if river currents had carried it underneath the crane.
About 3pm, shortly after the barge crane was unanchored after completing its mission of raising the sunken craft (see related story), a second body floated to the surface and was retrieved by authorities.
The second body was believed to be 20-year-old Hungarian student Szabolcs Prem, who also disappeared in the accident. The Coast Guard called off its search yesterday afternoon, saying there was little chance that anyone would be found alive.
Thirty-five of the 37 people aboard the "Ride the Ducks" amphibious craft were rescued after the boat was rammed by a barge and quickly sank on Wednesday afternoon mere yards off Penn's Landing.
Stay tuned to KYW Newsradio 1060 for updates on this breaking news story.
(Photo #2 by KYW's John McDevitt)
