Forks Township man drowns after entering Delaware River on flotation device, authorities say

A Forks Township man drowned in the Delaware River last weekend after entering the water on a flotation device, the Northampton County Coroner’s Office said.

The coroner’s office identified the deceased as Gary Conley, 53, of the 2200 block of North Delaware Drive. He died of complications from drowning, and the cause was ruled an accident by Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek.

Authorities said the incident began Saturday in the river along Boileau Avenue in Easton. Conley was sitting in a rubber dinghy when he entered the water but did not resurface, authorities said.

Authorities said the man was pulled from the water by bystanders who initiated a rescue operation.

Emergency Medical Services then transported Conley to the campus of St. Luke’s Hospital-Anderson in Bethlehem Township. Conley was resuscitated, but despite medical intervention, he was pronounced dead Sunday, Lysek said.

Please Sign up now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann can be contacted at: [email protected].