Sheriff: Teen drowned at Fawn’s Leap

HUNTER―The Greene County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an apparent drowning that occurred at Fawn’s Leap on Saturday morning.

It happened around 11:57 a.m. at the base of the waterfalls.

The victim, a 15-year-old from Brooklyn, was swimming with a group of friends and had jumped off the lower ledge, according to the sheriff’s office.

“The hydraulic current caused by the waterfall was too strong for him to swim out. All three of his friends entered the water in an attempt to pull him out, but they were unable to reach him as they started to get pulled under as well,” the sheriff’s office reported.

A New York State Forest Ranger was able to reach the victim and pull him to shore, but the sheriff’s office said by that time the teen had been in the water for more than 20 minutes.

“Greene County Paramedics and Hunter Ambulance personnel commenced life saving measures and the victim was transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital where resuscitative efforts were exhausted and the victim was pronounced deceased,” the sheriff’s office stated.

An autopsy is scheduled for Monday and the investigation remains ongoing.

Popular among cliff jumpers, Fawn's Leap is a 24-foot high waterfall located in Kaaterskill Creek just above Moore's Bridge along State Route 23A.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Town of Hunter Police, New York State Police, New York State Forest Rangers, Haines Falls Fire Department, Greene County Paramedics, Hunter Area Ambulance, and Tannersville Fire Department.

This is a developing story and will be updated when additional information is made available.

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