A quiet school outing ended in heartbreak on the Lehigh River in East Penn Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, when a 12-year-old student lost his life during a rafting excursion.
Cesar Albarracin Guncay, a sixth grader at Pierson Middle School in Sag Harbor, Long Island, was part of a school-organized trip to the Pocono Mountains. The trip was meant to be an annual outdoor experience for students, but it took a tragic turn on Wednesday afternoon.
Around 5 p.m., an inflatable raft carrying five people overturned on the Lehigh River. Officials said all five students were thrown into the water during the sudden capsize.
Four of the students were able to resurface and were quickly rescued nearby. Cesar did not come back up.
Emergency crews launched an immediate search and rescue effort along the river. After a tense search, his body was later recovered. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A later autopsy confirmed the cause of death as drowning and ruled the incident an accident. Authorities have not indicated any criminal activity, but safety procedures are now under review.
Back in Sag Harbor, the school district described the loss as devastating. Superintendent Jeff Nichols said the community is deeply mourning and that counseling services are being made available to students and staff.
As grief spread through the school community, support also grew online. A GoFundMe campaign set up for the family quickly raised more than $180,000, intended to help cover funeral and related expenses.
