Community Corner

Should Swimming Be Allowed in the Raritan River?

A 19-year-old drowned while in the river Sunday.

A at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital hours after he was pulled from the Raritan River after being submerged for close to 15 minutes—but he wasn't the only one swimming there that day.

According to , many people head over to Ten Eyck Park in Branchburg, coming from cities far away, to play catch with their dogs, fish in the water and even swim in the Raritan River.

Pedro Rosa was one of those doing that Sunday with his family and friend, when he was submerged under the water for 15 minutes. Police and rescue workers were able to pull him from the water and revive him after he was found not breathing and with no pulse, but he died later that evening.

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Zaslavsky said there is a possiblity Rosa got his legs caught on some debris under the water, which led to him being unable to rise above the surface again.

But many people, Zaslavsky said, swim in the river, not knowing what the currents will be like, what is floating under the surface or any other conditions of the water itself.

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So, Bridgewater, we want to know what you think.

The parks near the river are owned and maintained by the county. Do you think they should forbid swimming in the river?

Take our poll, and let us know what you think in the comments.


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