Cesar Albarracin Guncay, Sag Harbor 6th grader, dies on class rafting trip in Poconos

A Sag Harbor sixth grader has died during a class rafting trip in the Poconos, school officials said.

Sag Harbor Superintendent Jeff Nichols sent a letter to parents Wednesday night announcing the death of 12-year-old Cesar Albarracin Guncay during the annual class trip.

"There are no words to adequately express the depth of this loss," Nichols said. "Cesar was a cherished member of our school family, a child who mattered deeply to all who had the privilege of knowing him. His absence will leave an irreplaceable space in our classrooms, our hallways and our lives. Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to Cesar’s family and friends during this very sad time. We will keep them in our thoughts and prayers."

Cesar died Wednesday while rafting on the Lehigh River in East Penn Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, after the raft capsized, officials said.

The death is being investigated by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Firefighters and coroner officials were called to a report of a drowning, Carbon County coroner officials said.

The commission said there were five people in the inflatable raft when it capsized around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. All five people were sent into the water, the commission said. Cesar did not immediately resurface. The other four people were rescued. It was not clear how many, if any, of the other people in the raft were students.

Cesar was found later, the commission said. After being pulled from the water, he was taken to a park and pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m., Carbon County coroner officials said.

A commission spokesman, Mike Parker, said in a statement: "Life jackets were in use, but as with any recreational boating fatality investigation, we will conduct a review of all safety equipment."

Minerva Perez, executive director of OLA, a Latino advocacy group on eastern Long Island, said in a text: "We are in touch with members of the family to help with certain processes but the direct family members are just too devastated to talk to anyone."

A Sag Harbor school district spokeswoman told Newsday that this was the third year of the sixth grade class rafting trip to the Poconos. Cesar attended Pierson Middle/High School in Sag Harbor.

Students had planned to stay overnight, but left early and arrived back at the school at 2 a.m. on Thursday instead, the spokeswoman said. There were 74 students on the chaperoned trip, she said, declining to comment further.

Sag Harbor school officials said counselors would be available for students and staff and also referred families to the Long Island Crisis Center, which has a 24-hour hotline.

An online fundraiser has been started to support Cesar’s family. It describes him as a “kind, handsome and athletic 6th grader, a friend to many and a beloved neighborhood kid” from Sag Harbor.

People in downtown Sag Harbor on Thursday said they were saddened by Cesar’s death.

“We never know when anybody’s life is going to end, so it’s very important that we tell the people we love that we love them,” said Deborah Marshall, of Sag Harbor, whose children graduated from Pierson.

“I know that the family will be supported in this community. ... There’s a lot of love,” she added.

Jackie Fusco, of Southampton, said Cesar’s death is “a trauma to his fellow students at the school.”

A rafter and kayaker, Fusco said accidents like the one that killed Cesar should not occur when proper safety precautions are in place.

“Whatever the investigation [into Cesar’s death] finds out, I hope they make proper proactive changes to prevent this in the future,” she said.