A 12-year-old boy from New York state has lost his life following a rafting accident on the Lehigh River in Carbon County, Pennsylvania.
The Sag Harbor School District identified the child as sixth-grader Cesar Albarracin Guncay.
Superintendent Jeff Nichols addressed parents in a letter, confirming the accident took place during the annual class trip to the Poconos.
“On behalf of the entire district, we extend our deepest condolences to Cesar’s family and loved ones during this extraordinarily difficult time,” Nichols said in the statement. “We ask our community to honor Cesar’s memory and keep his family in our thoughts.”
A large group was out rafting Wednesday around 5 p.m. when their raft suddenly flipped over.
The coroner’s office confirmed that the 12-year-old had already been pulled from the water before the deputy coroner arrived on the scene. The child was pronounced dead at the scene.
Drone footage captured a raft overturned and pinned against a fallen tree in the river. Police were also visible near the Bowmanstown boat ramp off Bowman Road, close to the Rt. 895 bridge.
Nichols confirmed that school counselors will be available to support both students and staff.
“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,” Nichols said. “His absence will leave an irreplaceable space in our classrooms, our hallways and our lives.”
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