Man Who Drowned In North Jersey State Park Identified

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — Authorities have identified the man who died while swimming in Wawayanda State Park in West Milford Sunday.

Memfy Deleon, 20, of Paterson, died of accidental drowning, the Bergen County medical examiner determined, Bob Considine, press director of the state Department of Environmental Protection said Wednesday.

State Park Police responded to a call Sunday night that a man became distressed while swimming at Terrace Pond.

Deleon's body was recovered at about 11 a.m. Monday after West Milford Police, the State Park Police and the New Jersey State Police searched the pond where Deleon was last seen, Considine previously said.

Swimming is not allowed at Terrace Pond, Considine said.

"We continue to encourage the public to swim only in lifeguarded areas," he said.

More than $4,000 has been donated to a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for Deleon's funeral.

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Photo: Memfy Deleon — Courtesy of GoFundMe