Man Dies in Apparent Drowning at Jackson Cove in Oxford

Updated as of 9:45 p.m. on Aug. 11

The body of a 26-year-old New Jersey man has been pulled from the water in Jackson Cove Park.

While the investigation into the apparent drowning remains ongoing, the discovery brings to an end a search that began at 6:30 p.m. when the report of a missing swimmer came in from the popular summer destination.

Police have not released the name of the victim because they are still in the process of notifying next of kin, but authorities did say he was among a group of swimmers that was visiting Jackson Cove and staying at nearby Kettletown State Park.

The man's body was found near the one dock at the park, which is about 30 yards from the shore; the water in that area is about 15 feet deep. As signs at Jackson Cove note, there were no lifeguards on duty at the time.

The search effort involved a dive team from Seymour, a boat from Monroe and swimmers from the Oxford Fire Department, as well as state police and officials from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

To accommodate the ongoing investigation, Jackson Cove will be closed tomorrow, Aug. 12, according to Selectman Dave McKane.

The original report follows:

Firefighters from three towns, including Oxford, are at  Park in Oxford searching for a missing swimmer.

Oxford Fire Chief Scott Pelletier confirmed the search was ongoing to Oxford Patch at 8:15 p.m. All we know at this point is that firefighters are searching outside the immediate swimming area at the popular park for a swimmer who went missing this evening.

Oxford, Seymour and Newtown dive teams are on scene, as are firefighters from Monroe. The Oxford Fire Department also has a boat and firefighters in the water searching.

Oxford Patch is headed to the scene and will bring you more information as it becomes available.