Friday, December 21, 2012

New York State Police helicopter used in search for missing boaters

 
A state police helicopter aids in the search for two Dutchess County men in the Hudson River after their boat overturned this morning. 
 Ryan Paraggio -Poughkeepsie Journal




HYDE PARK — As long as there's daylight, authorities will search for the two Dutchess County men whose boat capsized in the Hudson River this morning, said Hyde Park Police Chief Eric Paolilli. 

 Police are searching the river and surrounding land for Barrett Raymond, 31, of Hyde Park and Baylin Coddington, 26, of Millbrook.

Raymond, Coddington and Michael Maurer, 29, of Hyde Park took a canoe into the Hudson River around 11:30 p.m. Thursday, when the boat became unbalanced and tipped roughly 200 yards off shore today at 1:37 a.m., Paolilli said.

The three men clung to the canoe, but the 48 degrees water pressured Maurer into swimming to shore. Once on land, he walked through the woods and knocked on an apartment door at the Royal Crest Apartments in the Town of Hyde Park. Maurer was unsure what happened to Raymond and Coddington, the chief said.

Maurer is at Saint Francis Hospital with hypothermia but suffered no serious injuries, Paolilli said.

The chief said officials are trying to determine how the boat flipped and why the men were on the river, but said there's "no reason to believe there's any criminality."

Officials will search as long as there's daylight and if still unsuccessful authorities will meet later today to decide their next steps, the chief said.

Based on the Coast Guard formula for survivability, the men could survive for approximately eight hours in 48-degree water. They have been missing for more than 12 hours, but the search is still a rescue mission, Paolilli said.

The three men's canoe excursion by Bard Rock near the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site.

Hyde Park police Lt. Robert Benson said shortly after 11 a.m. that, "We’re still right in the middle of the search right now."

He said officers from the National Park Service, state forest rangers, the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office, state police, Northern Dutchess Paramedics, and firefighters from the Roosevelt, Staatsburg and Hyde Park fire departments, and members of Dutchess County Emergency Response were on the scene.

A state police helicopter was dispatched to assist in the search, he said.

Coast Guard officials say its New York City sector was notified around 2 a.m. Friday that a canoe with three aboard overturned near the Rodgers Point Boat Club in Hyde Park, on the river's east bank just north of Poughkeepsie.

Paolilli said authorities are searching land three miles above and below the point where it's believed the boat capsized and are checking a quarter-mile into the river on all sides.

The Coast Guard Cutter Hawser, based in Bayonne, N.J., was already on the river when the call came in and is assisting in the search along with local and state police and firefighters.

A command post has been set up at the boat club.

Check back for updates.

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