A Prattsburgh woman died in a drowning accident in Chemung County over the weekend.
A canoe carrying two women was traveling down the Chemung River in the town of Big Flats late Saturday afternoon when it struck a downed tree causing it to capsize. One of the women could free herself and get to shore but a second woman became trapped underneath the canoe. After the canoe was dislodged from the tree by Swift Water Rescue Teams, the 22-year-old’s body was recovered.
State Police say both women were wearing life vests and were with a group of young adults traveling down the river in kayaks and canoes.
The initial first responders who arrived on the scene could not reach the capsized canoe due to its location from the shoreline and the river conditions.
New York State Police were assisted by the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office, West Elmira Police Department, and fire departments from West Elmira, Golden Glow and Big Flats.
