Sandy Creek, NY – A 22-year-old man died after three swimmers were caught in a current and pulled into deeper water at Sandy Island Beach State Park along Lake Ontario Sunday afternoon, authorities said.
According to the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded at approximately 4:15 p.m. Sunday to a water rescue at the state park, located at 3387 County Route 15 in the Town of Sandy Creek.
A preliminary investigation found that three people had been swimming when a current carried them farther into the lake and into deeper water, the sheriff’s office said.
One swimmer managed to reach shore without assistance. A second was rescued by people nearby, including on-duty lifeguards.
The third swimmer, identified by authorities as U Sai Fa, 22, of Utica, remained missing, prompting a large search involving law enforcement, fire departments, divers and other emergency personnel.
About two hours later, at approximately 6:13 p.m., an Air 1 crew located a body near the shoreline just north of where Fa was last seen swimming.
First responders brought him to shore, where authorities confirmed his identity. Fa was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Oswego County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Air 1, New York State Police, McFee Ambulance, the Oswego County Dive Team and volunteer fire departments from Sandy Creek, Constantia, Mexico, Phoenix and Scriba.
Authorities said Sunday that the incident remains under investigation. No additional information about the conditions in Lake Ontario at the time of the emergency was immediately released.
