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Man dies apparently trying to rescue dog in Pennypack Creek

A 67-year-old man died Monday after he apparently went into the rain-swollen Pennypack Creek in Northeast Philadelphia to rescue his dog, police said.

A 67-year-old man died Monday after he apparently went into the rain-swollen Pennypack Creek in Northeast Philadelphia to rescue his dog, police said.

The dog was later found wet but safe at the man's car.

It was not clear whether the dog jumped or fell into the creek while on a walk with its owner in the Bustleton section off Verree Road.

Police said the initial investigation indicated that the man, whose identity was not released, went into the creek to save the dog but got swept away by the current. Witnesses who were fishing spotted the man's body in the water about 9:30 a.m. and called 911.

Police and firefighters who responded had to call in a boat to recover the body because of the swift-flowing waters fed by nearly 1.5 inches of rain overnight.

Medics pronounced the man dead at 10 a.m. An autopsy was planned to determine the cause of death.

jgambardello@phillynews.com