Man Disappears Beneath Hackensack River While Swimming: Police

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Police are searching for a missing man they said disappeared below the surface of the Hackensack River after swimming in it Sunday afternoon.

Police said that the 39-year-old Hackensack man went into the river near Route 80 South on River Street, despite his two friends saying he should not, Hackensack Police Capt. Frank Aqulla said.

The man began swimming toward Bogota. He struggled to stay above water and disappeared below the surface, Aqulla said.

The man's friends searched the area for an hour but could not find him, the captain said.

The man's nephew called police after the man did not return home. The Hackesack and Bogota Police departments, Hackensack Fire Department, a Maywood Police K9 unit, and a helicopter from the New Jersey State Police searched, but could not find the man.

The Hackensack Fire Department's rescue boat will re-enter the river Monday to try and find the man, police said.

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