A retired New York City police officer died Sunday night in the Bear River in the Oneida Narrows area.
According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, dispatchers received a call for help at about 5:10 p.m. with a report that a man had possibly drowned near the Red Point Campground. The caller told dispatchers that the man, later identified 45-year-old William M. Dattheyn, had already been pulled out of the water and CPR was in progress.
When deputies arrived on scene, they found Dattheyn on the shore of the river surrounded by family members, including an off-duty Logan police officer. CPR had been discontinued.
Witnesses told deputies that Datthyn was on a tube in the river. His tube deflated and he was swept into some rapids and hit some rocks. He was found in about 3 feet of water, with his head submerged.
He was reportedly rescued by family members and brought to the shore. He was transported to the Franklin County Medical Center, where the Franklin County Coroner’s office took possession of his body.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said the the actual cause of death was not immediately apparent so an autopsy will be performed.
Datthyn was currently employed as a court bailiff for the Las Vegas County Sheriff’s Office.
