A boating trip on the Lehigh River turned into a dramatic island rescue Tuesday afternoon when, police say, a man’s boat drifted away and stranded him.

Bethlehem Township Police Cpl. Patrick Brehm told lehighvalleylive.com the incident began at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday when emergency workers were called to the township’s Hope Boat Launch.

A caller reported being separated from his boat in the Lehigh River. The caller attempted unsuccessfully to swim after the vessel but ended up at an island in the river instead, Brehm said.

The man needed to be rescued from the island in the vicinity of Farmersville Road at Wilson Avenue .

Bethlehem Township Volunteer and Nancy Run fire companies’ crews rescued the man, and his boat was pulled from the river later.

Additionally, a pair of good Samarita

See Full Page