A late-night outing on Cayuga Lake turned tragic early Sunday when a Flushing man drowned after his kayak capsized near Sheldrake Point in Seneca County.
The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office says 35-year-old Bo Soo Choi, also known as John Choi, entered the water around 1:30 a.m. with a friend. Neither wore a life preserver, and the kayak flipped as they tried to turn. Bystanders rescued one man, but Choi didn’t make it to shore.
First responders rushed to the area after 911 calls came in around 1:45 a.m., reporting people in distress south of Sheldrake Point in the Town of Ovid. Deputies, fire crews, and volunteers began an overnight search.
Search and rescue teams, including drones and boats, scoured the lake through Sunday but had to pause at nightfall. The search resumed Monday morning. Choi’s body was recovered just after 11 a.m. from a depth of about 70 feet.
Sheriff Timothy Thompson thanked the many agencies that helped in the effort, including departments from Wayne, Cayuga, and Seneca counties, State Police and Park Police, local fire crews, ambulance teams, K9 search units, and numerous volunteers.
He also urged the public to wear life preservers and have a safety plan before heading out on the water.
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