MASSENA, NY — On July 29, 2019, at approximately 4:02 p.m., St. Lawrence County 911 received a call for a missing swimmer, 19-year-old Aiden C. Thacker, of Beech Grove, Indiana, in the town of Massena.
Thacker and a friend were swimming in the St. Lawrence River, in the vicinity of the Long Sault Dam, when both were swept toward the dam by the strong current. Thacker’s friend was able to swim to shore, but ultimately lost sight of Thacker, troopers said. Several bystanders searched the shoreline for Thacker, with negative results.
Multiple assets and agencies, including New York State Park Police, New York State Environmental Conservation Police, State Police Underwater Recovery Team (URT), and numerous volunteer fire department dive team members responded to assist in the search.
Thacker’s body was located, downriver from the dam at 7:01 p.m., by the Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department Marine Unit.
St. Lawrence County Coroner James Sienkiewycz responded and pronounced Thacker deceased at 8:20 p.m.
Coroner Sienkiewycz ordered the body removed to Massena Memorial Hospital, pending an autopsy.
