12-Year-Old New York Sixth-Grader Drowns During School Rafting Trip in Pennsylvania
A 12-year-old sixth-grader from Sag Harbor, New York, drowned on Wednesday during his school's annual rafting trip in the Poconos region of Pennsylvania, officials confirmed.
The boy was identified by Sag Harbor Union Free School District Superintendent Jeff Nichols as Cesar Albarracin Guncay, a student at the district's middle school. The incident occurred near East Penn Township in Carbon County, according to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
The raft carrying Cesar and his classmates overturned in the Lehigh River shortly after the group embarked. Emergency crews responded, but the boy had already been pulled from the water by the time they arrived. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a statement from the Carbon County Coroner's Office.
In a letter sent to families, Nichols described Cesar as “a cherished member of our school family” and acknowledged the profound grief sweeping through the community. “There are no words to adequately express the depth of this loss,” he wrote. “His absence will leave an irreplaceable space in our classrooms, our hallways, and our lives.”
The district has made counselors available to students and staff, a standard response for schools facing sudden tragedy. Officials have also reached out to Cesar’s family, offering support and condolences.
An autopsy is pending to determine the official cause and manner of death, while an investigation into the circumstances of the accident remains ongoing. Authorities have not yet disclosed how many students were on the raft or whether any safety violations may have contributed to the incident.
Annual outdoor trips like rafting are common in many school districts, but safety protocols vary. Experts note that swift-moving spring currents and cold water temperatures can create hazardous conditions, even on rivers that appear calm. The Lehigh River in May typically runs higher and faster due to seasonal snowmelt and rainfall.
The tragedy has renewed discussions among local parents and educators about the safety of school-organized water activities. The Sag Harbor School District, the Lehighton Fire Department, and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission have not yet commented on any potential policy reviews.
As the community mourns, a vigil is being planned by classmates and neighbors. A GoFundMe page set up to support Cesar’s family had raised more than $30,000 by Friday morning.