Drowned kayakers were brothers

As the search resumed today for a kayaker who disappeared in the Brandywine Creek in Chester County, officials said the missing man is the brother of the kayaker who was pulled from the water and died yesterday.

The first victim was identified as Christopher Miller, 28, of Yonkers, N.Y.

Recovery teams are still looking for his brother, the Rev. Chad Miller, 34, an associate pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, according to the church's Web site.

The search for Chad Miller was suspended around 10 last night, and resumed this morning.

Debbie Brown, administrator for Westminster Presbyterian Church, where Chad Miller ministered to the congregation's missions and youth, said that Miller would have had limited familiarity with the Brandywine.

A native of Sandwich, Ill., he came to Delaware in July 2007 after working at churches in Illinois and Kentucky, she said.

Chad and Christopher Miller were close and visited each other regularly, Brown said. Their parents and a sister reside in Creston, Iowa.

Brown said the church, which has been rocked by the loss, is suspending its regular services at 10 a.m. Sunday to hold a memorial.

The creek was swollen and fast-moving yesterday, and an employee of Brandywine Picnic Park saw the two brothers before they reached the dam and warned them about it; however, they apparently ignored his advice, according to a statement issued this morning by the park.

The statement said that the park was open for a school event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; however, the rising waters of the Brandywine prompted the park to close all water activities at 10:20 a.m. yesterday, the statement said.

The park stationed two employees near the Brandywine Creek to ensure compliance, and one of them saw the two kayakers approaching the dam from the north about 1:20 p.m., the statement said. The employee told them to get out of the water, but they ignored his advice, capsizing as they went over the falls, the statement said.

Employees called 911 and attempted to assist the men, the statement said. Police described the dam as a four-foot drop.

U.S. Geological Survey data show yesterday morning's rains caused a rapid rise in the Brandywine.

Between 6:45 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., the stream flow went from 123 cubic feet per second to 1,010 feet per second near Downingtown and height rose from 2.57 feet to 4.62 feet.