A sixth grader in the Sag Harbor School District died Wednesday in a rafting accident on the Lehigh River in Pennsylvania while on the annual class trip to the Poconos. The tragedy was confirmed by Jeff Nichols, the district superintendent, just before 11 p.m.
"It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that we share the devasting news of the passing of our beloved sixth-grade student, Cesar Albarracin Guncay," he wrote in a ParentSquare message to school families.
"There are no words to adequately express the depth of this loss. Cesar was a cherished member of our school family, a child who mattered deeply to all who had the privilege of knowing him," he continued. "His absence will leave an irreplaceable space in our classrooms, our hallways, and our lives."
It became clear that something had gone very wrong just before 8 p.m. Wednesday, when an email from Mr. Nichols circulated with the news. "While our 6th grade students were on the river rafting session in the Poconos this afternoon, there was an accident and a student was reported missing." He wrote that "all other students are accounted for."
Mr. Nichols also noted that there was an "ongoing police investigation at the location of the incident."
The rest of the class returned to Sag Harbor at 2 a.m. Thursday. The school offered no further details about the accident.
An early news report from WFMZ, a television news station in Pennsylvania, said officials from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission said "there was a large party of boaters on a raft" when it flipped.
Mr. Nichols said school counselors would be available, but he also added links to the Response Crisis Center and the Long Island Crisis Center, which both offer around-the-clock crisis hotlines and chats.
"We encourage families to keep close communication with their children, speak with them openly and compassionately, and contact the school whenever additional help is needed," he wrote. "On behalf of the entire district, we extend our deepest condolences to Cesar's family and loved ones during this extraordinarily difficult time. We ask our community to honor Cesar's memory and keep his family in our thoughts."