ERIE COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVB) — The body of North Tonawanda resident Nathan Farkas, 37, has been recovered since he went missing after going swimming near the south Grand Island Bridge on Tuesday.
According to the Sheriff’s department, officers received reports of a man that went swimming in the east branch of the Niagara River but did not make it back to the shore.
Investigators say that Farkas and another man entered the water from a Grand Island dock and tried to swim to a bridge pylon when the first man lost sight of Farkas.
The Sheriff’s Office dispatched the Marine Unit, Air-1, for the rescue efforts, and members of the SWAT team deployed a drone. The Sheriff’s Underwater Recovery Team also responded to the scene.
Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports multiple, specialized units responded to a report of a missing swimmer near the south Grand Island bridge.
— Erie County Sheriff (@ECSONY1) July 29, 2020
At approximately 1628, Sheriff’s Office Dispatchers received reports of a male who went swimming in the east branch of the Niagara River
The search was paused on Tuesday night due to diminishing daylight and safety concerns, but it continued Wednesday morning.
Around 11 a.m., the Erie County Sheriff’s Office found a male body downriver from where the swimmer went missing. He was later identified as Farkas.
Kelly Khatib is a digital reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2019. See more of her work here.
