SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. — Crews are back on the scene of a mining pit in Schuylkill County to continue their search efforts for the body of a missing kayaker.
After storms forced crews to pause their search for a missing kayaker Tuesday night, they returned on Wednesday to East Main Street in Girardville to continue their search for the body of a missing 42-year-old missing kayaker.
Rescuers believe the kayak capsized in the flooded strip mining pit.
"This is our second day," said Girardville Fire Chief Frank Zangari. "I have about four different dive teams right now using sonar and watercraft to try and get in. We did locate a garment and a boot from the victim, so we're still looking at this point."
The mining pit is in Butler Township, near Girardville.
Chief Zangari said his father was a worker at the mine when it flooded more than 50 years ago. It's been flooded ever since.
"My advice to people is to stop. There's a point where you just have to choose common sense. Stop swimming in the hole. It's dirty water. It's not healthy, and it's bottomless."
Crews searched for several hours on Wednesday before bad weather forced them to quit.
"This is my seventh casualty in this hole since it's there," the chief added. "I keep praying that at some point, the federal government is going to fill it in."