Rescue personnel on both sides of the Delaware River searched just after midnight Saturday.
A distraught 27-year-old man who had been drinking jumped into the Delaware River at Easton's Scott Park boat launch and emerged early Saturday morning in Phillipsburg, city police report.
The man's father, who lives in Phillipsburg, identified his son, telling police, "I'm just happy he's OK," Easton Sgt. Dominick Marraccini said about 12:45 a.m.
An emergency radio reported indicated the man initially went under and didn't come up.
The relieved father told police his son is a "strong swimmer," Marraccini said.
The park is near the dam where the Delaware and Lehigh rivers merge and the currents have proved treacherous -- and occasionally fatal -- over the years.
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The man, who was originally from Phillipsburg but has been "bouncing around" among homes, went into the water at the Scott Park boat launch, Marraccini said.
Fire and police personnel from both sides of the river, including boats from the Easton Fire Department, Pennsylvania Water Rescue and at least one from the New Jersey side, searched for the man, focusing search lights over the dark river. They continued after the man was initially reported on the other side, pending positive identification.
Onlookers at Scott Park said they didn't hear or see the man go into the water.
It was the second time in hours that rescue personnel responded to the river. Just before 8 p.m., a person riding a personal water craft near the free bridge that connects Easton and Phillipsburg was "in distress" and required intervention from Easton Fire Department personnel in a boat, a first responder on the Phillipsburg side said.
No one was hurt in either incident, Marraccini said.
Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.