Easton Man's Body Pulled From Lehigh River

An Easton man died Monday while swimming in the Lehigh River.

Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek identified the man as 22-year-old Jovanny Valdez

say a 911 call just after 4 p.m. alerted them that a man had gone under while swimming in the river, near the railroad tracks where Canal Street meets Brother Thomas Bright Ave. 

Lt. John Remaley said it took time to recover the man's body because the river is so deep in spots.

"It goes from six feet to about eight to 12 feet," he said. "There were parts where we didn't even touch bottom."

Residents waited along Canal Street for news, and talked about how dangerous the river could be.

"You have to respect it," one man said.

"And that river's tricky," another added. "With all that rain, it's been moving."

Hours after the incident, neighbors gathered along Valdez's West Berwick Street home on Easton's South Side, sharing the news, some of them crying and hugging. One man slammed a bottle of water against the sidewalk in anger.

A woman who neighbors identified as Valdez's sister sat outside on the ground, rocking back and forth and sobbing.

"I want my brother back. I want my brother back," she said.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine Valdez's cause and manner of death, Lysek said.