close

Body pulled from Youghiogheny River in Rostraver Township

1 min read
article image -

ROSTRAVER – The body of an Allegheny County man was pulled Monday from the Youghiogheny River in Rostraver Township.

Rostraver police said the body of Craig Allen Helsel of Holiday Drive, West Mifflin, was discovered about 11 a.m. in the middle of the river about 30 yards downstream from where he was last seen swimming by his friends. Troopers in a helicopter found the body, police said.

The Westmoreland County coroner’s office was called to the scene for what appeared to have been a drowning at Smithton Beach a day earlier, police said.

Helsel, who was in his 50s, was described by his friends as a good swimmer. They called for police about 8 p.m. Sunday after he disappeared.

River rescue teams from Rostraver, Greensburg, West Newton and Suttersville were called to the scene and stayed there until 11:30 p.m., police said.

The search resumed Monday morning, police said.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $3.75/week.

Subscribe Today