Man Dies After Jumping Into River While Fishing With Friend

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PLUM (KDKA) – A body was pulled from the Allegheny River in Plum on Saturday.

The Allegheny County medical examiner's office has identified the victim as 51-year-old Gregory M. Rudcki, of Monroeville.

Police say Rudcki and a friend took a boat out on the river from the Springdale Borough Boat Dock around 8 a.m.

The two men later had to make repairs to their fishing tackle, so they decided to cross the Allegheny River to the Plum side near Barking Road so a dog they had with them could swim in the shallow water.

According to police, around 10:30 a.m., Rudcki apparently decided to get into the water himself, but then started struggling to stay afloat.

Rudcki's friend threw the man a flotation device, and Rudcki started to swim toward the shore.

Police say Rudcki then went under the water. When he didn't resurface, Rudcki's friend called 911.

Emergency personnel from multiple departments were called to search the river.

They recovered Rudcki's body just before 2 p.m.