Seneca County authorities report that a kayaking incident on Cayuga Lake early Sunday morning claimed the life of a Flushing, NY, man.
The Seneca County 911 Center received multiple calls around 1:45 a.m. on August 17 about individuals in the water near Sheldrake Point in the Town of Ovid. Responding deputies assisted several people from the lake, but one male remained unaccounted for.
A search and rescue operation was launched, involving the Sheriff’s Office Drone and Boat Patrol Units, as well as several local fire departments. The search was paused overnight and resumed Monday morning, August 18. At approximately 11:15 a.m., the body of 35-year-old Bo Soo Choi (also known as John Choi) was recovered from about 70 feet of water.
Investigators say Choi and a friend entered the lake around 1:30 a.m. in a kayak. The kayak capsized while attempting a turn, and both men, who were not wearing life jackets, ended up in the water. Choi’s friend was rescued by bystanders, while Choi did not make it to shore.
Seneca County Sheriff Timothy Thompson would like to thank the following agencies for their roles and assistance with the incident:
Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Park Police, New York State Police.
- Lodi, Interlaken, Romulus, Aurelius, Aurora, Union Springs, Lansing, and Trumansburg Fire Departments. South Seneca Ambulance. Cayuga and Seneca County 911 Centers.
- Massasauga Search and Rescue Team and Amigo Search and Rescue Dogs Inc. for providing K9 support.
- Numerous good Samaritans and local businesses provided resources during the operation.
Sheriff Thompson would like to remind all water enthusiasts of the importance of life preservers and having a safety plan in place.
