A Syracuse man drowned after a canoe overturned at an Adirondack campground last month, New York State Police said Tuesday as they identified the victim.
Canoe overturns on Lincoln Pond
The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. May 15 at Lincoln Pond Campground in Elizabethtown, Essex County, according to State Police. The campground is about 120 miles north of Albany.
Troopers said two men, Chandra Bhattarai, 31, of Liverpool, and Ran Rai, 30, of Syracuse, were traveling together in a canoe on Lincoln Pond when it overturned, sending both men into the water.
Friend in kayak attempts rescue
A third man, Parsu Bhattarai, 33, of Liverpool, was paddling ahead of them in a kayak when he heard calls for help, State Police said.
According to troopers, Parsu Bhattarai turned and saw the canoe had capsized and both men were struggling in the water.
Chandra Bhattarai remained with the overturned canoe while Rai attempted to swim to the kayak.
“Parsu attempted to assist Rai; however, the effort caused both men to become submerged,” State Police said in a news release.
Parsu Bhattarai was able to swim safely to shore, and Chandra Bhattarai was later rescued from the water.
Victim identified
Rai did not resurface. Divers from several area fire departments located and recovered his body from the pond, according to State Police.
Rai was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later determined his death was accidental. The cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning.
According to his obituary, Rai was originally from Jhapa, Nepal, and worked as an Uber driver in Syracuse.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Syracuse Uber driver identified as victim in fatal Adirondack canoe accident
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
