Sheriff’s Office Investigates Drowning in Wappinger Creek 

On Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at approximately 6:20pm, Dutchess County 911 dispatched the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, New Hackensack Fire Department and Town of Wappinger Ambulance to a possible drowning in the Wappinger Creek located behind the Wappingers Falls Trailer Park on New Hackensack Road.

First arriving responders used a citizen’s rowboat to begin searching for a missing male swimmer. Additional resources were requested to the scene including swift-water rescue teams from the Arlington and LaGrange Fire Departments, the New Hamburg Fire Department boat, and the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol, Underwater Search and Recovery Team and Detective Bureau. The Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response and New York State Police also assisted at the scene.

During the multi-agency search effort, New Hamburg firefighters located the male at approximately 7:30pm. Emergency life saving techniques were initiated and the male was transported by Town of Wappinger Ambulance to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital where he was declared deceased. The victim is a 20-year-old male resident of the Town of Poughkeepsie.

The Sheriff’s Office reminds everyone to use extreme caution whenever swimming in a river, lake, stream, creek, or other natural water environment. Fast-moving currents, waves, and rapids are extremely dangerous. Other dangers such as waterfalls, dams, underwater obstacles, rocks, and debris also pose an extreme threat. These hazardous areas must always be avoided. Additionally, anyone swimming in a natural water environment should always wear a personal floatation device.