MORRIS COUNTY

'Massive recovery operation' for canoeist at White Meadow Lake

William Westhoven

@WWesthoven

ROCKAWAY TWP - A "massive recovery operation" continued Sunday afternoon for an adult male after a canoe capsized overnight at White Meadow Lake, according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.

A rescue boat heads back to shore about 3:30 p.m. Sunday at White Meadow Lake, where multiple authorities were searching for a man who was missing after his canoe capsized about 3 a.m.

One man was rescued but another remains missing, according to a statement issued by Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Chief Martin McParland of the Rockaway Township Police Department.

According to the statement, township police were dispatched to White Meadow Lake about 3 a.m,. responding to multiple 911 calls regarding a canoe capsizing on the lake with two individuals aboard. One adult male was recovered and was transported to St. Clare's Denville Campus Hospital, where he was later released.

Responders remained on the scene to conduct a search for a second adult male. No names were released.

By 3 p.m., the dive team had left the scene and only one rescue boat was still on the lake, with three responders focusing their search on the northeast corner of the lake. A township and state police unit remained at the rescue staging area at the White Meadow Lake Club. Police at the scene declined to comment.

Witnesses on the scene said the dive team was gone by 1:30 p.m.

Other agencies participating in the recovery efforts included the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Morris County Sheriff's Office, Parsippany Rescue and Recovery, Boonton Fire Department, Rockaway Township Fire Department, Jefferson Township Fire Department, St. Clare’s EMS, Morris County OEM and divers from multiple agencies.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 972-917-9242; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.