Grand Island, NY – A 61-year-old Maine man died early Friday morning after falling off a sailboat into the Niagara River near Grand Island, according to the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.
At approximately 12:20 a.m., deputies responded to the Sandy Beach Yacht Club after a 911 caller reported that the man had fallen from the back of his docked boat and may be drowning. Witnesses told authorities the man had been seen in the water, but by the time deputies arrived, he was no longer visible.
According to the sheriff’s office, several bystanders and multiple first responder agencies joined in the search. At about 1:20 a.m., members of the Grand Island Fire Company located the victim’s body in more than 100 feet of water near where he was last reported.
The victim has been identified as Edward Lachapelle, 61, of Turner, Maine.
Sheriff John C. Garcia thanked the Grand Island Fire Company, Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, United States Border Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard, and other fire departments for their assistance in the recovery.
Authorities have not released further details on how the accident occurred.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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