ELDORA – When Craig Weidel, 65, of Swainton set out in the afternoon to sail East Creek Pond on Route 347 July 18, he had no idea the voyage would turn into a search-and-rescue operation that lasted until after 11 p.m.
According to New Jersey State Police spokesman Sgt. Adam Grossman, Woodbine Station received a call from Weidel’s wife that he set out about 2:30 p.m. and had not yet returned home. She and troopers went to the lake and found Weidel’s vehicle and empty boat trailer by the boat ramp that leads to the lake.
A check of the immediate area by troopers was without success. They continued to search for the sailor and his boat. About 7:45 p.m., troopers requested New Jersey State Police Aviation and Marine units to respond to the Dennis Township lake.
South Star helicopter responded and located the boat on the lake’s north side. At that time, they confirmed Weidel was aboard, and that he was having trouble operating the vessel.
At that time, Sgt. Robert Frake and Trooper James Laspada used a flat-bottom boat and were able to get to Weidel, who was in a shallow, marshy area.
“He had nowhere to go,” said Grossman. “They were able to get him and his boat out and back to the ramp. However, they did not get him out until 11:20 p.m. due to the conditions. He was uninjured but extremely dehydrated and had a lot of bug bites,” he added.
Weidel refused further medical treatment.
“Too many times we hear of missing boaters, but this was a successful search-and-rescue operation,” said Grossman. Weidel had no cell phone or other means of communication aboard to summon aid, he said.
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