12-Year-Old Boy Dies After Raft Capsizes During School Trip in Pennsylvania

A 12-year-old boy died during a school rafting trip in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, according to authorities. The Sag Harbor Union Free School District identified the child as Cesar Albarracin Guncay in a statement to parents. Guncay was participating in the annual school rafting trip on Wednesday, along with 74 other students. Superintendent Jeff Nichols expressed condolences to Guncay's family and requested the community to honor his memory. The Carbon County Coroner’s Office reported that Guncay died from accidental drowning. He was one of five students on an inflatable raft that capsized on the Lehigh River, ejecting all occupants into the water. A search-and-rescue operation was initiated when one of the students did not resurface. Guncay was later recovered from the river and pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m. The incident occurred near the D&L Trail at mile marker 99. Authorities have not released further details regarding river conditions or safety equipment. Nichols stated that school counselors would be available to support students and staff following the incident, emphasizing the significant loss felt by the school community. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is investigating the incident.