SKINNERS FALLS — Two members of the National Canoe Safety Patrol will receive one of the highest honors in the international water rescue community after helping rescue several people from the Upper Delaware River during the July Fourth holiday weekend in 2025.

Thomas Wilkins and Peter Van Slyke have been selected as recipients of the 2025 Higgins & Langley Memorial Award, which recognizes extraordinary courage, technical skill and lifesaving action in water rescue.

The two men earned the award for their swiftwater rescue efforts at Skinners Falls on July 5, 2025, when two canoes capsized in the rapids during a busy holiday weekend on the river.

After remaining on patrol beyond their scheduled departure time because of continued heavy river traffic, Wilkins and Van Slyke saw two canoes overturn. When only two of the three occupants of one canoe surfaced, the veteran rescuers responded and found an elderly man trapped beneath the overturned canoe with his head submerged.

Working together in the fast-moving current, Wilkins and Van Slyke were able to right the canoe and free the man, who surfaced gasping for air after being trapped underwater. The man, who did not speak English and was in a state of panic, was then brought safely to shore.

During the same incident, Wilkins and Van Slyke also helped coordinate the rescue of the man’s elderly wife, who had become stranded in the river and was unable to safely reach shore without assistance.

“This recognition reflects not only the professionalism and dedication of Tom and Pete, but also the mission of the National Canoe Safety Patrol to provide skilled volunteer assistance to paddlers on the Delaware River,” said Robert Post, commodore of the National Canoe Safety Patrol. “Their calm judgment, experience, and willingness to remain on patrol when others had left directly prevented what could have been multiple fatalities. We could not be more proud of their accomplishments.”

The July 5 rescue came one day after another incident involving Wilkins.

On July 4, Wilkins remained on patrol after other personnel had departed because he believed river traffic still presented a safety concern. While preparing to leave the area, he spotted a man struggling in mid-channel without a personal flotation device.

Wilkins responded immediately, provided emergency flotation, stabilized the man and escorted him safely to shore. According to the National Canoe Safety Patrol, the rescued man later said he believed he would have drowned without Wilkins’ intervention.

Wilkins and Van Slyke will receive their awards during the Higgins & Langley Memorial Awards Ceremony on August 27 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The ceremony will bring together water rescue professionals from across the United States and around the world to honor recipients for extraordinary lifesaving actions.

Founded in 1979, the National Canoe Safety Patrol is an all-volunteer organization that promotes safe recreational boating and provides on-the-water assistance to paddlers throughout the Upper Delaware River.

Patrol members contribute thousands of volunteer hours each year by educating the public, assisting distressed boaters and responding to emergencies. Members also promote boating safety through public education, river outreach, special events and partnerships with the National Park Service and local communities.

The National Canoe Safety Patrol is currently seeking new volunteers. Members travel from Sullivan, Orange and Pike counties, as well as from as far away as Philadelphia, to participate in weekend patrols along the Upper Delaware River.

Training is provided for volunteers interested in boating safety, public service or outdoor recreation.

For more information about the National Canoe Safety Patrol, becoming a member or supporting its mission, visit nationalcanoesafetypatrol.org.