Source: The Republican (Springfield, MA)
Author: JEANETTE DeFORGE; [email protected]
GOSHEN, MA – A 49-year-old Westfield man died in an accidental drowning Saturday in the Daughters of the American Revolution State Park.
The Hampshire County District Attorney’s office has identified the victim as Orlando Burgos, of 40 Franklin St.
Burgos and two other men were in a canoe about 40 to 50 feet from shore in the Upper Highland Lake, when the canoe capsized. The other occupants were able to swim to shore, according to Mary Carey, a spokeswoman from the Northwestern District Attorney’s office.
“The death appears to be accidental in nature,” she said in a written statement.
The boat reportedly capsized at about 7:30 p.m. and police were notified at about 7:50 p.m.
Bystanders attempted to rescue Burgos, but could not find him after he sank below the water.
Burgos’ body was recovered at about 10:45 p.m. Saturday, Bagley said.
Searchers from at least six different organizations including the Goshen FireDepartment, the Northfield Police Dive and Rescue Team, the Massachusetts Environmental Police and several state police units participated in the three-hour search, said State Trooper Reid Bagley, a police spokesman.
A State Police helicopter assisted the search from above while the dive searched under water, he said.
“It was a very large operation,” he said.