A Pennsylvania park ranger who went missing during routine maintenance was discovered deceased two days later. This ended a large-scale search effort that involved numerous emergency agencies over the Memorial Day weekend.
Alec Campbell, 38, from Delaware County, Pennsylvania, vanished on Friday, May 23, 2025, after his kayak overturned in Neshaminy Creek at Tyler State Park in Newtown Township, Bucks County.
Campbell, a resource ranger with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, was working to place a buoy in the water when the accident occurred around 12:30 p.m.
Search teams found Campbell’s body on Sunday, May 25, 2025, after a thorough recovery operation that lasted nearly 48 hours. The search operation included Pennsylvania State Police aviation and maritime units and several local fire departments, such as Newtown Fire Rescue, Lingohocken Fire Company, Northampton Township Fire Department, New Hope-Eagle Fire Company, Newtown Ambulance Squad, Upper Makefield Fire Company, and the Bucks County Special Operations Dive Team.
The incident occurred during a time of increased water levels due to recent heavy rainfall. Philadelphia recorded approximately 4.5 inches of rain in May, nearly twice the normal monthly average. Emergency responders initially conducted water and land searches using boats, rigging equipment, and dive gear, while state police helicopters provided aerial assistance.
Witnesses saw Campbell struggling in the rain-swollen creek and called 911 shortly after noon on Friday, May 23, prompting an immediate emergency response. Helicopter footage from the scene showed crews searching a section of Neshaminy Creek near a dam, where a buoy suspended on a rope and a blue life jacket were visible in the fast-moving water at the dam’s edge.
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn conveyed her condolences upon the recovery. Dunn stated that she had spoken with Campbell’s wife and family, offering the department’s support during this challenging period. She noted that Campbell was a committed member of the state park staff, whose dedication had impacted many in the community.
The Bucks County Coroner’s Office will determine the official cause and manner of Campbell’s death. The Pennsylvania State Police Troop M’s criminal investigation unit is leading the investigation into the incident, which initial reports suggest was accidental.
Campbell is survived by his wife, Rena, and two young sons: eight-year-old Calder and five-year-old Miles. A GoFundMe campaign organized by family friend Haley Richter has raised more than $30,000 for college funds and savings accounts for the children.
Richter described Campbell as a vibrant and energetic presence, cherished by his family and community as a husband, father, son, brother, and friend.
Ryan Andrew Chudd, a close friend of Campbell, shared memories of the ranger on social media. Chudd called Campbell a tremendous outdoorsman who was smart, clever, kind, and radiant. “He’d be bummed that the park was closed this weekend while they search for him,” Chudd wrote, urging others to enjoy the outdoors with their friends and family.
Campbell worked as a park resource ranger, a role that involves technical public safety work and park operations maintenance. His duties included greeting visitors, preserving natural areas, and ensuring the safety of those visiting Pennsylvania’s state parks. Rangers must perform various maintenance tasks, including the buoy placement that Campbell was working on when the accident occurred.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro ordered all flags at commonwealth facilities to be flown at half-staff on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Campbell’s honor. Shapiro stated that he and his wife were praying for Campbell’s family and expressed the state’s gratitude for his service to the Commonwealth.
Tyler State Park, covering 1,700 acres in Newtown and Northampton townships, remained closed through the Memorial Day weekend while the search and recovery operation was underway. The park, located about 30 miles northeast of Philadelphia, is popular for activities such as hiking, boating, and fishing. It reopened on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
The search operation required law enforcement rangers from the region to block park entrances during the busy Memorial Day holiday weekend. Emergency crews had to temporarily halt the search at times due to hazardous water conditions and strong currents near the dam area where Campbell’s kayak overturned.
The Campbell family released a statement through NBC 10, expressing their appreciation for the outpouring of love and support they received. They stated that Campbell was and remains loved, and they were humbled by the community’s response during their time of grief.
Campbell’s death occurred during a particularly hazardous Memorial Day weekend for water-related incidents across Pennsylvania, with multiple fatalities reported in Monroe and Northampton counties, underscoring the increased risks associated with elevated water levels and strong currents following the recent heavy rainfall.
