Fisherman dies after his canoe swamps in central Pa. creek

A Perry County man died after his canoe swamped Sunday morning while fishing on Shermans Creek, authorities said.

Matthew Ayres, 36, of Landisburg, went into the water around 8 a.m. in a section of the creek near Dugans Mill Road in Wheatfield Township, just downstream from the historic Delville Covered Bridge, according to Coroner Bob Ressler.

Ayres “became entangled in the anchor line after his 14-foot canoe swamped on Shermans Creek,” said Michael Parker, spokesman for the Fish and Boat Commission, the agency investigating his death.

Ayres was not wearing a life jacket when he went into the water, according to Parker.

Ressler said the coroner’s office pronounced Ayres dead at the scene. The man with whom he was fishing was rescued.

An autopsy is being conducted Monday morning to determine Ayres’ cause and manner of death.

The creek’s currents were strong and the water was higher than usual after recent days of rain, Ressler said. The exact height and speed of the water was not immediately available.

In Shermans Dale — about eight miles from where Ayres died — Shermans Creek sat at about 2.4 feet as of 8 a.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

According to government data, the creek was less than 2 feet high and shot up to more than 5 feet between May 7–10. The National Weather Service reported zero rain-free Friday to Sunday stretches in Pennsylvania since the beginning of April.