Franklin Township Police received a 911 call reporting a man in the water, with three children on the shore.
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Responding officers found the three children, ages 8, 11 and 13, out of the water.
According to officials, the children's father, a 42-year-old South River resident, was unable to be located.
Witnesses say the children went into the water and quickly became distressed. That's when the victim went into the water to help, pulled his children to shallow water, but struggled to maintain his balance.
NewsCopter 7 was over the water where divers could be seen searching the water, but efforts to rescue the victim were unsuccessful.
Search for missing swimmer in Franklin Township, NJ
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The victim's body was recovered by the divers around 5:30 p.m.
The children were treated at the scene and released without further medical attention.
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