A 12-year-old boy died Wednesday during a school rafting trip in Pennsylvania’s Poconos region. Cesar Albarracin Guncay, a sixth grader from Sag Harbor, New York, was participating in an annual guided rafting excursion on the Lehigh River when his inflatable raft capsized, ejecting all five occupants into the water. Guncay did not resurface, and his body was recovered by the Lehighton Fire Department Dive Team. The Carbon County Coroner’s Office ruled the death an accidental drowning.
Immediate Response and Investigation
The incident occurred around 5 p.m. near the river’s 99-mile marker in East Penn Township. Authorities responded to reports of a drowning and pronounced Guncay dead at the scene. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is reviewing the safety equipment used during the trip, though life jackets were reportedly in use. Mike Parker, a commission spokesperson, noted that recreational boating fatalities are rare in Pennsylvania, with 10 recorded last year, eight of which involved individuals not wearing life jackets.
School District’s Reaction
Sag Harbor Union Free School District Superintendent Jeff Nichols expressed condolences in a statement to parents, calling Guncay a "cherished member" of the school community. The district has made counselors available to students and staff. The trip included approximately 74 students, and the rafting excursion was part of an annual school field trip.
Water Safety Experts Weigh In
Dr. Gauthama Soma, a pediatric emergency medicine physician, emphasized the importance of "touch supervision" for children near water and recommended Coast Guard-approved life vests. She also advised parents to learn CPR, noting that drowning is often silent and preventable.
Ongoing Investigation
The Carbon County Coroner’s Office is coordinating with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident. The coroner’s office has not yet released additional details about the cause of the raft’s capsizing.