PHILADELPHIA / BURLINGTON COUNTY, N.J. The body of a man who vanished while swimming in the Delaware River during a late‑night boating trip was found Monday afternoon, bringing a tragic end to a multi‑day search that gripped families on both sides of the river.
The discovery of 31‑year‑old Carlos Manuel Gil‑Reyes, also known in local reports as Carlo, highlights the dangers of open‑water swimming and the hidden risks even experienced adults face in natural waterways.
Who Was the Missing Swimmer?
Gil‑Reyes was a 31‑year‑old father and barber from the Philadelphia area. Friends described him as warm, generous, and full of life, qualities that now underscore the loss felt by family and community members after he disappeared in the Delaware River early Friday, June 5.
According to local authorities, Gil‑Reyes went underwater during a social boating outing near the Linden Avenue boat ramp in Northeast Philadelphia and never resurfaced.
The Friday Night Outing That Turned Tragic
On the night of June 5, a group of friends gathered on several boats on the Delaware River just after dark. The mood was relaxed and social, but at some point, Gil‑Reyes and a companion jumped into the river for a swim, a decision that would have devastating consequences…