POUGHKEEPSIE – Emergency services personnel searched the Hudson River off Poughkeepsie late Monday afternoon after police received a report of a swimmer in distress near where the Fallkill Creek drains into the river.
Police Captain Richard Wilson said the person, believed to be an 18-year-old man, went into the water in mid-afternoon. They swam some 40 to 50 feet away from the shore and was unable to return to the shoreline appeared to be having difficulty returning to the shoreline and were last seen where they went underwater,” he said.
The swimmer went underwater approximately 25 feet from the shore behind the pavilion at the Poughkeepsie Children’s Museum.
Poughkeepsie Police requested the assistance of Poughkeepsie firefighters and the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, and boats from both agencies.
A State Police helicopter searched the river from the air.
The Ulster Hose Company arrived with a dive team to assist in the search. “We’ll continue our search the best we can,” said Wilson, who noted that the efforts would last until the rescuers ran out of daylight.
According to one witness, the swimmer had been with other young people onshore before entering the river. When the swimmer had difficulties, the other individuals left the scene.
- On Tuesday Detective Lieutenant Matt Clark says that the missing swimmer has tentatively been identified as an 18-year-old male from the City of Poughkeepsie.
