The search for a swimmer who disappeared in the Hudson River at the Dobbs Ferry riverfront in New York on Monday evening concluded on Tuesday morning, July 9, 2024, when emergency crews recovered his body.
Emergency responders, including the Dobbs Ferry Police and Fire departments, the NYPD, the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ardsley and Hartsdale police departments, launched an extensive search operation shortly after the 911 call occurred at around 6 p.m. on Monday.
Dobbs Ferry Fire Chief Joe Giuliano described the initial rescue efforts: “They started a grid search once the first boats arrived at approximately 6:15 p.m. They were out there for three and a half hours.” Unfortunately, the search had to be called off at 9:30 p.m. due to safety concerns for the first responders. The search resumed on Tuesday morning as a recovery mission, and the body was discovered around 10:30 a.m., approximately 50 yards off the shoreline in 25-35 feet of water.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the swimmer was part of a crew disassembling carnival rides from a recent Fourth of July event at the waterfront. One coworker mentioned that the man had jumped into the river to cool off after becoming overheated. “I feel bad,” said Dobbs Ferry resident Dennis O’Brien, who walks along the riverfront every morning. “These guys have been working in the heat for the last few days, obviously, he tried to cool off. The Hudson River has some rough currents. It has dual currents.”
Giuliano added, “We had reports from some people on the scene saying that he had just gone in for a quick swim and was calling out for help a few minutes after.”
Historical and environmental data support the Hudson River’s reputation as a challenging body of water. According to the advocacy group Riverkeeper, the river’s tidal estuary can create strong currents, posing risks to swimmers. Chief Giuliano emphasized the importance of swimming only in areas where lifeguards are present and being aware that the water, despite appearing calm, can be deceptively dangerous.
