Distress Call From Passaic River In Garfield Deemed A Hoax

GARFIELD, N.J. -- Emergency responders had already launched after a reported distress call from a child of a medical emergency on a boat in the Passaic River near Garfield on Tuesday when they discovered it apparently was a hoax, authorities told Daily Voice.

The Dundee Dam on the Passaic River
Photo Credit: *Rebecca Abma*

Jerry DeMarco

03/16/2016 10:16 a.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard got the call via radio just after 4 p.m., Garfield Capt. Darren Sucorowski said. Garfield and Elmwood Park boats immediately went into the water and Fair Lawn remained on standby, he said.

Elmwood Park's boat went south to Fair Lawn Avenue, responders said.

""There were no signs of a vessel," Sucorowski said. "The U.S. Coast Guard was contacted again and it’s reported that the call was a possible hoax."

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