Teen drowns in broadkill river after crabbing outing near milton

MILTON, Del. — Delaware State Police are investigating the drowning of an 18-year-old man whose body was recovered from the Delaware Bay on Tuesday evening, a day after he went missing in the Broadkill River.

Yorch Niz-Chilel had been crabbing with family near the boat launch at the end of Oyster Rocks Road in Milton on July 15 when he entered the river as they prepared to leave. According to police, he walked into the water until it reached his neck and began yelling for help. Family members attempted a rescue but were unable to reach him before he submerged.

Emergency personnel from the Lewes Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard, and other state and local agencies responded and launched a coordinated search effort by water and air. The search was suspended later that evening due to safety conditions and resumed the next morning.

On July 16, a fisherman spotted a body near the Outer Wall by the Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse in the Delaware Bay. The remains were recovered and identified as Yorch Niz-Chilel.

His body was turned over to the Division of Forensic Science for further examination.

Shore News Network Staff Report Latest posts

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.