Victim identified in Zoar Valley death

GOWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) - Two men got into trouble on the Cattaraugus Creek in Gowanda Saturday morning but by the time rescuers got there, for one of the men, it was too late.

It was a perfect day for it.

Two friends went out for a scenic kayak ride in Zoar Valley on Cattaraugus Creek.

Dept. Joseph Magiera said, "Waters are low and calm, easy vessle navigation," said

But around 11:30 Saturday morning something went wrong.

"We had a hunter that was in there squirrel hunting. He heard some cries for help. He went down to the area and realized there was going to be able to get down in the gorge to help. So he called 911. Law enforcement and fire personnel were sent," added Dept. Magiera.

Forest rangers, the sheriff, Erie County's Air One helicopter and Capt. Kevin Caffery flew in immediately and found two men a few hundred feet down in the gorge.

Officials say one of the men in his 40's was performing CPR on his friend Kevin Osmanski who was 48 years old.

But when Air One and Gowanda's Rope Rescue Team swooped down to help it was already too late.

Officials believe Osmanski had a medical condition, possibly a heart attack and died along side his friend by the water.

The distraught friend was brought up by Air One and taken to a nearby hospital to be checked out.

It's unclear why the man had a medical condition, but officials tell News 4 the kayak had tipped over and a short time later, one of the men told his friend he didn't feel well.