Missing Kayaker Found Dead In Schuylkill River

UPPER MERION, PA — The fisherman who had been missing since earlier this week when he embarked out into the Schuylkill River on his kayak was found dead Thursday night, bringing to an end a several days-long search.

Tony Luongo, 69, was found along the river in Upper Merion.

It still remains unclear exactly what happened.

Luongo had launched his kayak at the Upper Merion Township boathouse, located on 400 Falls View Drive, at some point early on Monday.

He shared a selfie to his social media account at about 12:40 p.m. on Monday while traveling upstream from the boathouse.

Original story: Search For Missing Person On Boat Underway In Schuylkill River

By around 2 p.m., the man had traveled around 1.1 miles upstream and had run into some sort of trouble, police said. A resident who lives near the water said he heard the man calling for help, though he could not see him.

Police searched the heavily wooded area around the area but did not find or hear anything further. The Upper Merion crew team launched boats at around 4 p.m. upstream from the boathouse and also did not see anything, police said.

Police found the missing boater's vehicle at the boathouse on Tuesday and search and rescue crews fanned out, as well as drones, above and below the dam. They found the man's kayak at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday at the base of the dam "near the middle of the river."

Other of Luongo's belongings were found in a snagged tree about a thousand feet upstream of the boathouse.