2 Paddle Boarders Fatally Drown In Morris Co., Officials Say

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Two men were found dead this weekend in separate bodies of water in Morris County, officials said.

Separate incidents, one in Mount Olive and one at Hopatcong State Park, left a 41-year-old and a 24-year-old dead within 24 hours.

Tilcon Lake Drowning

On Saturday, around 8 p.m., police were called to Tilcon Lake in Mount Olive on reports of a person missing in the water.

Police say that a group of adults were paddle boarding on the lake when one of them fell into the water and did not resurface.

The other members of the group could not find him and called authorities for help, officials said.

Several agencies, including the state police, the Morris County Sheriff's Office, the Mount Olive Police, and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit, responded and swept the lake to find the missing paddle boarder.

The 24-year-old's body was recovered Sunday morning around 11 a.m. Officials say a medical examiner's report is underway.

Authorities say foul play is not suspected at this time.

Paddle boarding is not permitted on Tilcon Lake, according to law enforcement.

Anyone with additional information on this incident is asked to call the Morris County Communication Center at 973-285-2900.

Hopatcong State Park Drowning

On Sunday, around 2:30 p.m., police responded to reports of a potential drowning at Hopatcong State Park in Roxbury.

Officials say onlookers noticed an unattended paddle board in the water and notified a nearby beach lifeguard. The lifeguard told first responders of a potential drowning involving a 41-year-old man.

Several agencies, including the New Jersey State Park Police, the Roxbury Police, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, and the Roxbury Fire Department, responded to the incident and began searching for the missing paddle boarder.

Authorities found the body of the 41-year-old at around 7 p.m. Sunday.

Officials say the man was paddle boarding in an area of the beach not supervised by lifeguards.

An examination by the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office will be conducted, officials said

This is an ongoing investigation by the New Jersey State Park Police and the New Jersey State Police are conducting the investigation.

At this time, no foul play is suspected, authorities said.

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Authorities have not yet released the identities of either victim.