Two men lost their lives in separate drowning incidents on Saturday in Orange County.
The first occurred around 11:35 a.m. at Turkey Hill Pond in Harriman State Park, Town of Highlands. State Police say 22-year-old Darwin Chuiza-Tagua of Spring Valley had gone hiking with a friend before entering the pond to cool off. As he moved away from shore, he went under the water and did not resurface.
Search crews, including the State Police Aviation Unit and Underwater Recovery Team, later located him deceased about 20 feet from shore in 10 feet of water. Investigators say the drowning appears accidental, with no signs of foul play.
The second incident happened just hours later, around 3:50 p.m., at Walton Lake in the Town of Monroe. Troopers say 36-year-old Mohammadsadegh Kiani of Plainview was about 40 feet from shore, sitting on an inflatable paddleboard, when he lost his balance and fell into the water. Witnesses from the nearby American Legion Post pulled him from the lake and began CPR until first responders arrived.
Kiani was taken to Garnet Health Medical Center in critical condition, but despite life-saving efforts, he was later pronounced dead. Authorities say his drowning has also been ruled accidental.
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