Sixth grader dies during annual school rafting trip to the Poconos
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- A 12-year-old boy, Cesar Albarracin Guncay, drowned during a class rafting trip on the Lehigh River in East Penn Township, Pennsylvania, when the raft capsized and all five occupants were thrown into the water.
- The incident occurred during an annual school field trip for Pierson Middle School in Sag Harbor, New York, and was described as an accidental drowning by the Carbon County Coroner’s Office.
- Life jackets were reportedly worn at the time, but the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stated that all safety equipment will be reviewed as part of the investigation, noting that boating fatalities are rare but can involve factors beyond life jacket use.
- The Sag Harbor school district expressed deep sorrow, highlighting Cesar as a cherished student and offering counseling support to the school community.
- Whitewater Rafting Adventures, the company overseeing the rafting trip, expressed heartbreak and emphasized their concern for Cesar’s family and friends.