GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. — The Erie County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) is investigating a fatal accident after a man fell from a sailboat into the Niagara River early Saturday morning.
Deputies responded at approximately 12:20 a.m. to the Sandy Beach Yacht Club area in the Town of Grand Island after a 911 caller reported that a man had fallen from the back of his docked boat and was possibly drowning. Witnesses initially saw the man in the water, but by the time deputies and rescue personnel arrived, he could no longer be located.
A large-scale search was immediately launched, involving bystanders and several first responder agencies. The Grand Island Fire Company, along with the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard, and additional local fire departments, assisted in the efforts.
At approximately 1:20 a.m., members of the Grand Island Fire Company located the man’s body more than 100 yards from where he was first reported to have fallen into the river.
The victim has been identified as Edward Lachapelle, 61, of Turner, Maine.
In a statement, Sheriff John C. Garcia expressed condolences to Lachapelle’s family and gratitude to all agencies and individuals who worked tirelessly in the overnight search. “We thank the Grand Island Fire Company, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Border Patrol, the United States Coast Guard, and several other fire departments for their swift response and assistance,” Garcia said.
The Erie County Sheriff’s Office has not released additional details about how Lachapelle fell into the water. The circumstances surrounding the fatal incident remain under investigation.
This tragedy underscores the dangers of boating and the importance of safety precautions when near or on waterways, even while docked.
