HUNTER – The Greene County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of an 11-year-old Westchester County boy who fell approximately 300 feet down ice-covered ledges off of Platte Clove Road in the Town of Hunter.
The incident occurred Saturday in the Indian Head Wilderness Area of the Catskill State Park near a popular ice climbing location known as the “Dark Side.” The victim had been ice climbing with a group that included his father, two other children aged 13 and 15, and three other adults. As they were walking out on a portion of a trail that was equipped with a hand line, the victim lost his footing, slipped and fell.
Forest rangers were able to get down to the scene where the victim was found dead. A determination was then made that it would be too dangerous to attempt to extricate him in the darkness.
A team of forest rangers proceeded in at 9 Sunday morning on a mission to recover the body. At approximately 4:24 p.m. in the afternoon, the victim’s body was recovered.
The victim was taken to Ellis Hospital Morgue pending an autopsy.
The sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by Town of Hunter Police, State Police, state forest rangers, state Environmental Conservation Police, the Twin Cloves Rope Rescue Team, Hunter Ambulance, and Greene County Paramedics.
