SWINGING BRIDGE, NY — On Sunday, July 20,  at about 2:45 p.m.  Deputy Sean Grady and Detective Eric Breihof were on marine patrol duty on Swinging Bridge Lake when they heard a child screaming for help. The deputies observed a young boy in the water yelling to his father who was partially submerged. The deputies brought their patrol boat around and extended a telescoping boat hook which the victim managed to grab onto.

The victim was brought to shore where two local residents, June Lombardi and Cameron Abplanalp, helped pull the man up on the dock. The victim was identified as Thomas P. Proppe, Jr, 48, who was visiting from Cranston, RI. The man and his 8-year-old son were kayaking when the wake of a passing motorboat swamped their vessel.

The son, who was wearing a life jacket, managed to swim free but the father, who was not wearing a life jacket got his legs tangled and had trouble keeping his head above the water. Sheriff Mike Schiff acknowledged the actions of his marine patrol unit and thanked the two good Samaritans for their help with the rescue.

“Please use caution on our waterways”, said the Sheriff. “We were very fortunate to avoid a tragedy in this case.”