News

Drowning death of Ravena man an accident

By Billie Dunn

CATSKILL — According to the New York State Police in Catskill, Abdon Wilson Juarez Ramirez, 20, of Ravena, drowned Monday afternoon in the Catskill Creek, and an autopsy performed at 9 a.m. Tuesday at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany determined that the cause of death was accidental.

The victim’s friend, Luis Linares of Catskill, was one of three men swimming with Ramirez when he went under the water near the state Route 23 overpass and did not resurface. According to police, Linares flagged down a New York State Trooper on Route 23 just after 1:30 p.m.

Ramirez’s body was recovered a couple hours later in approximately 15 feet of water, around the area where he was last seen by his friends.

Rescuers from the State Police, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Village of Catskill Police Department, New York State Parks Police and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police responded to the scene. A State Police Helicopter and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Investigators also assisted in the search.

Eric Hoglund, a member of the Greene County Sheriff’s Dive Team, described the water as “mostly warm” with a “mild current.” Hoglund has been diving since 1988 and said “even a moderately experienced swimmer wouldn’t have trouble swimming” under the creek’s conditions that day.

Hoglund said that despite the outcome, Monday’s recovery was a successful one. “It’s like finding a needle in a haystack, and it’s dark down there,” he said.

According to Hoglund it isn’t uncommon for searches like this to last several hours — or sometimes days.

To reach reporter Billie Dunn, please call 518-943-2100, ext. 3323, or e-mail bdunn@thedailymail.net

Reader Comments

Submit a Comment