Lake George drowning victim identified
Police have released the identity of a man who drowned in Lake George on Tuesday.
Rupak R. Padini, 25, is a citizen of India and a college student from Pennsylvania. Padini was visiting the area with some friends, according to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
He was with a group of friends in the area of Lamb Shanty Bay in Hague around 3:20 p.m. Witnesses from the scene said it happened off the coast of the Silver Bay YMCA in Hauge.
The group had a pontoon boat secured to the shore and were out either on the shore, wading or swimming, according to police, when they became distressed, police said. Padini was wearing a personal floatation device but slipped out of it.
Marine patrol officers rescued all but one member of the group, police said. Witnesses said that they also saw authorities respond to the scene from the sky, with a helicopter that seemed as if it was searching for Padini.
Officers eventually located Padini. They attempted life-saving efforts on scene but was eventually pronounced dead.
NewsChannel 13 spoke to Olivia Lewis who is a lifeguard who works at Lake George. Lewis said wearing a life vest is not enough, she said one needs to make sure that the life vest is fit properly so it is not to lose.
“Make sure everything is buckled. Make sure everything goes where it is supposed to be and you’re just wearing it properly,” Lewis said.