The identity of the drown victim in Alexandria Bay has been released as a 22-year-old Florida resident.
According to Chief of Police in Alexandria Bay, Jim Marshall, the victim is Michael N. Puchek of Florida.
Puchek was in the area working for a civilian contractor on Fort Drum.
On June 15th at approximately 10:30 p.m. witnesses say they heard someone screaming for help in the river. The cries were coming from in front of the River Hospital in downtown Alexandria Bay.
Upon arrival of the Alexandria Bay Police Department, the screams had stopped and a search was conducted in the water and on land, as well as by air with a Coast Guard helicopter. Witnesses were interviewed and the search was called off until daylight.
On June 16th at approximately 12:45 p.m. divers located the body of Puchek and he was pronounced dead at about 1:05 p.m.
“I can’t think of anything else we could have done better,” said Chief of Police Marshall. “After the call to 911 we were on scene in a minute or two.”
Puchek’s body was removed from the scene and taken to Samaritan Medical Center where an autopsy will be performed Monday afternoon.
