Body Of College Student Recovered After Overturned Kayak Found In Water

UPDATE: At approximately 3 p.m. on Monday, crews searching Lake Hayward in East Haddam recovered the body of 20-year-old Dominick Joseph Tocci of Woodstock, CT, state officials said.

"DEEP sends its condolences to Dominick’s family and loved ones," officials said in a statement. "DEEP appreciates the efforts of all of the emergency response entities involved. The incident remains under investigation by DEEP EnCon Police. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death."

Written, reported by Jessie Castellano, Patch Staff

EAST HADDAM, CT — The search is still underway after a student at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts has been missing since Saturday.

Dominick Tocci, a 20-year-old junior political science major from Woodstock, Connecticut, was still missing on Monday after a boating incident in East Haddam, Connecticut, on Saturday, Holy Cross wrote in a statement to Patch. He was last seen at about 9:50 p.m. on the water in Lake Hayward.

Two 20-year-old males were in a canoe when it capsized on Lake Hayward, according to a spokesperson for the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. DEEP Environmental Conservation Police responded late Saturday night.

A nearby resident heard voices calling for help from the lake, and a Good Samaritan brought one of the males to shore in a paddleboat. He was taken to a local hospital and later discharged, according to DEEP.

Holy Cross said that the male was another of its students, who was also on the boat and has since been accounted for.

The college said it's in contact with local law enforcement in Connecticut as its search efforts continue.

"The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority, and our hearts and prayers are with the student's family, friends, and all members of our campus community during this time," the school continued in a statement. "Support from counselors and our college chaplains has been made available to any student, faculty, or staff member who may need it.

The Taftville Dive Team has been on the scene at Lake Hayward in East Haddam since late Saturday.

An overturned kayak was found in the water, said Taftville Fire Co.#2. Air and water drones, along with marine units, have been searching the area.

An additional dive team from Middletown also responded.

The Portland CT Fire Department said at 10 p.m. Saturday the Portland Dive Team was requested for reports of swimmers in distress, with one person that had gone under the water and was unaccounted for.

"Our team responded with Rescue 1, Emergency 1, and our zodiac along with 10 members of our dive team, the Chief and Deputy Chief. Middletown and South District Dive teams also responded, as we are a joint team," Portland fire officials said. "Units operated on scene for several hours. Multiple mutual aid departments were utilized for the search and rescue efforts. The scene was ultimately turned over to the CT State Police and the CT DEEP.

The search for the missing boater is expected to begin again on Monday.

Patch editor Brian McCready contributed to this story.