Nicholas B. Herr was trying to help his friend when he disappeared on the Susquehanna River late Saturday night.

Herr, 24, of New Providence, and Archie McConnell, also 24, of Quarryville, were headed out in kayaks from a boat launch on the York County side of the river, an official with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission said.

The pair were paddling to an island where they previously had camped in the wintertime, according to Eric Levis, commission spokesman.

But they encountered rough waters ,and McConnell's kayak capsized. Herr went to help his friend, and his kayak capsized as well, Levis said Monday.

Both men were wearing life jackets when their kayaks tipped, authorities said.

McConnell was able to swim to the York County shore. He made his way to a nearby house, where a call for help was placed at about 11:25 p.m.

The accident happened after the two men left the shore from the Muddy Creek Boat Access in Lower Chanceford Township, York County, at about 10:30 p.m., authorities said.

Levis did not know the name of the island the two men were headed toward or why they departed at such a late hour.

Darrin Kephart, the Fish and Boat Commission's waterways conservation officer in York County, who is heading the investigation, could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.

A search Saturday and early Sunday was unsuccessful.

Volunteers with Rawlinsville Fire Company went back to the river around 2:30 p.m. Monday and searched for 2 1/2 hours in the area where Herr was last seen, according to Rawlinsville Fire Chief Carl Strickler.

He said Monday night there were no new developments to report.

Strickler said crews will not resume search efforts today but hope to return to the river Friday or Saturday.

Strickler said he will be communicating with officials from Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency and Susquehanna River Authority to coordinate efforts to control river flow and water levels so crews can do a comprehensive search of the area.

"We also need to review weather conditions … I think we're looking at rain midweek — any runoff would make the level harder to control," Strickler said. "So no, I don't see us being able to get back out there until the end of the week."

He said the in-depth search would involve more boats — possibly seven to nine — and likely a K-9 unit.

Rescuers searched for Herr for six hours late Saturday and early Sunday, calling off their efforts when they started showing signs of hypothermia.

The water temperature was 38 degrees and the air temperature hovered around the freezing mark at the time of the accident.

Rescuers did recover both of the men's kayaks.

Although both McConnell and Herr were wearing life jackets Saturday night, they were not required by law to do so.

That will change Nov. 1 under a new law aimed at curbing cold-weather boating fatalities.

Currently, all boats in Pennsylvania must have one personal flotation device for each person on board.

But only children age 12 and younger on boats shorter than 20 feet long, and on any kayak or canoe regardless of length, are required to wear PFDs.

Beginning this year, anyone in a kayak or canoe or a boat less than 16 feet long that's either under way or at anchor will be required to wear a PFD from Nov. 1 through April 30.

Staff writer Jennifer Todd contributed to this report.

cstauffer@lnpnews.com