NEWS

VIDEO: Alcohol 'may have played a role' in kayaker's disappearance, police say

Geoffrey Wilson
Poughkeepsie Journal

STAATSBURG — Police say alcohol may have played a role in the disappearance of a kayaker in the Hudson River.

A Dutchess County Sheriff's vehicle at the Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park marina in Staatsburg on Saturday.

Ian Jones, 32, and Tali Fruchtmann, 22, a boyfriend-girlfriend couple from New York City, were kayaking in the Hudson River near the Staatsburgh State Historic Site Saturday during the early morning hours when their tandem kayak capsized in the water, according to Captain John Watterson of the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office.

Watterson confirmed Sunday that Fruchtmann is the daughter of Grammy Award-winning singer Annie Lennox.

The sheriff's office began its investigation at 9:50 a.m. Saturday, Watterson said. The search was suspended at 10 p.m. Saturday, as river conditions made the search difficult.

The search resumed at 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning at the same location, Watterson said.

“We believe that alcohol may have played a role,” Watterson said Sunday.

Fruchtmann was located and picked up by a passing vessel, but Jones remains unaccounted for, according to the sheriff's office. Neither kayaker was wearing life preservers at the time of the incident, Watterson said.

An Ulster County Sheriff's boat leaving the Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park marina in Staatsburg on Saturday. The Ulster County Sheriffs department assisted Dutchess County Sheriffs department in the search of a missing kayaker near Norrie Point.

Fruchtmann was not injured as a result of the capsizing, Watterson said, nor was she taken to a hospital.

No foul play is suspected at this time, Watterson said, adding the incident doesn’t appear to be criminal in nature.

An Ulster County Sheriff's boat returns to the Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park marina in Staatsburg on Saturday. The Ulster County Sheriffs department assisted Dutchess County Sheriffs department in the search of a missing kayaker near Norrie Point.

So far, no more details are being released on how the incident occurred.

A New York State Parks Police boat returning to the Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park marina in Staatsburg on Saturday. New York State Park Police assisted Dutchess County Sheriffs department in the search of a missing kayaker near Norrie Point.

The sheriff's department described Jones as a white male, 6-foot-3 with a slim build, dark hair, wearing jeans and a denim shirt. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 845-486-3800, or via the tipline at 845-605-2583 or dcsotips@gmail.com.

Rescuers from the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office have been searching on the Hudson River for a missing kayaker Saturday.

The Sheriff’s Office’s Marine Patrol, Dive Team, Uniformed Patrol, and Detective Bureau aided with search efforts. The sheriff's office said the following agencies also assisted with the investgation and search: New York State Police, Town of Hyde Park Police, Ulster County Sheriff's Office, New York State Parks Police, Staatsburg Fire Department, Roosevelt Fire Department, Town of Ulster Fire Department, Kingston Fire Department, Northern Dutchess Paramedics and Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response.

Geoffrey Wilson: gwilson@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4882, Twitter: @PoJoGeoffWilson