WEIKERT - A Coal Township man who reportedly fell and was submerged in Penns Creek for at least 20 minutes while fishing Wednesday afternoon passed away later in the day at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.
Thomas Patrick, who reportedly was in his late 40s, was pronounced dead Wednesday night at the medical center, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Patrick was initially transported to Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg before being flown by Life Flight helicopter to Geisinger following the incident that occurred at approximately 3 p.m.
According to reports in The Daily Item of Sunbury, Patrick's friend, Jerome Barcavage, of Coal Township, said both men were fishing for about 35 minutes on Penns Creek near the end of Pardee Road, just east of the Union County Sportsman Club and Wildlife Sanctuary.
Patrick, who was wearing jeans and a T-shirt but no waders, was in the creek and went to reach for something when he slipped, said Barcavage, who was about 25 feet away on the creek bank.
Underwater at least 20 minutes
The incident happened in a remote location where cell phone reception is spotty at best.
Barcavage's screams caught the attention of a nearby mother and three teens who had just arrived to swim and fish in Penns Creek.
Jennifer Horne, of Glen Iron, drove off to call 911 and summon assistance.
The Daily Item reported Alex Horne, 18, of Glen Iron, and Dana Roberts, 17, of Millmont, immediately jumped in the water to search for Patrick, while Edward Aikey, 17, of Millmont, kept watch on the creek bank for signs of Patrick.
The first ambulance arrived in about 15 minutes, Roberts said. Several other medical and fire units responded to the scene and members of West End Fire Company eventually found Patrick, who was pulled from the creek by emergency personnel from Mifflinburg.
Emergency medical technicians worked on Patrick for about 20 minutes, Barcavage said, and were able to get a pulse before transporting him to Evangelical Community Hospital.
The spot where Patrick fell varies in depth from 6 to 12 feet. The temperature in the creek was approximately 50 degrees.
Witnessses told The Daily Item that Patrick was under water between 20 and 40 minutes.