New York State Park Police have recovered the body of a young child was recovered Sunday from the Genesee River in Letchworth State Park. Another young boy remains missing but is presumed drowned in a tragic weekend accident at the park’s Lower Falls.
Authorities spent Saturday evening and all day Sunday searching the gorge beneath the falls in Wyoming County after members of an extended family fell into the Genesee River while apparently hiking off the trails.
Police say they believe they were playing in the water when one person slipped and was swept over the falls. The result as people ran to help was all seven people being swept over the 60-foot drop; two adult males, three young girls and two young boys.
The adults and the girls were saved Saturday evening and taken to Strong Memorial Hospital with various injuries. The boys, who were six and nine-years-old, disappeared.
Searchers in helicopters and boats located the body of one boy Sunday afternoon. They’re not identifying the family members at this time and they continue their search for the second body.
The southern end of Letchworth Park remained closed during the search.