Erie Canal drowning has lasting impact

There were many heroes who tried in vain to save the life of an 18-year-old Lyons teen who drowned in the Erie Canal this past weekend.

From the friends and bystanders who tried to reach him before he went under the murky waters to the firefighters, EMT’s and deputies who then tried to resuscitate him, the death of Christopher Aviles is a tragedy that will linger in many people’s minds for a long time to come.

“Any time there’s a tragic incident, whether it’s a drowning, fatal motor vehicle accident, suicide, or farm accident; any time someone loses their life, there are emotions,” said Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts. “My guys are trained to do their job, but over the years, it does take a toll. You step back and say ‘why did this happen?’”

Mr. Aviles, of 2 Layton St., Lyons, drowned shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday, June 18 in the Erie Canal while swimming at Wide Waters Park in the town of Arcadia, Wayne County sheriff’s deputies said.

“What started out as pure fun and exhilaration of joining the crowd ended in tragedy,” Virts said.

Chief Deputy Bob Hetzke, at the scene that night, said that Mr. Aviles and six friends went to the Wide Waters Park for an afternoon picnic in the sunny weather. Even though the area is posted “no swimming”, and there is no lifeguard on duty, the group of young adults decided to swim across the 350 to 400-foot wide expanse of the canal — one of the widest areas in the canal system.

Three people got across. Mr. Aviles, bringing up the rear went about halfway across and got into trouble. His screams for help spurred many people into action.

“His friends went back into the water and bystanders tried to help,” Hetzke said. “One person got to him, but an attempt at a water rescue was not successful for him.”

With the murky water, even rescue workers had a difficult time, Hetzke said.

“Once you lose sight of the person,” he said, “you might have five or six inches of visibility — if you’re lucky.”

 The sheriff’s department shut down the lock system and they, along with volunteers from Newark, Lyons and Port Gibson fire departments, searched the water in boats using sonar.

Mr. Aviles was found by rescue workers nearly an hour after he’d gone under — in 11 feet of water.

“He was put into an ambulance and resuscitation attempts were being made,” Hetzke said.

Mr. Aviles was pronounced dead at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital.

Virts said he met with Mr. Aviles’ parents, who live in New Jersey, and told him of the heroic measures strangers and friends alike went through to save their son.

“My deputy sheriffs did a great job during a difficult time,” he said, adding that the department offers counseling services for those who need it. “They’re professionals and they know our community needs them to move forward. ... In our business, we deal with a lot of death.”

Still dealing with this death, too is Mr. Aviles’ sister, Kassandra Aviles.

“My graduation is this Friday, and my brother is normally there to cheer me on,” she said.
“He was the loudest person you’d ever meet, but he was the sweetest person you’d ever meet,” said Kassandra.  “He mostly liked to hang out with his friends.”

Terrence Rivera, Aviles’ guardian, agreed.

 “He never wanted to be alone doing something,” he said. “So if they were out swimming, then he wanted to go swimming. He just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Rivera considered Aviles more of a brother.

“He was always trying to make the best out of every situation that he was in, even if it wasn’t good to begin with,” said Rivera.

Tim Montone had been friends with Mr. Aviles since they were 12 years old.

“We were pretty much inseparable. We were best friends. We used to hang out every day,” he said.

 Montone took the news hard.

 “I just thought it was a dream,” he said. “I was just hoping that I’d wake up.”

Hetzke said they get several calls throughout the year about people swimming in the canal.

“It’s common — especially on nice days,” he said. “It will always be there. People go into the water to cool off.”

But people, he said, need to know their limits when it comes to swimming.

“They had to swim across,” he said. “That was just too much for him.”

 The county coroner is expected to conduct an autopsy of Aviles’s body this week.

Mr. Aviles obituary, including funeral arrangements, follows.

AVILES, CHRISTOPHER O.

LYONS — Christopher O’Brien Aviles, 18 died Saturday, June 18, 2011 from an accidental drowning.

Chris was born the son of Jorge and Nora (Avery) Aviles Jan. 29, 1993 in Long Branch, N.J. He was a student at Lyons High School. Chris loved to play video games, card games, hanging out with friends and mythical creatures.

Chris will be remembered by his parents, Jorge Aviles and Nora Aviles; brothers, Alex, Larry, Alberto and Jonathan Aviles; sister, Kassandra Aviles; maternal grandfather, Larry Avery; paternal grandfather, Jorge Aviles; many aunts, uncles and cousins and several nieces and nephews.

Chris was predeceased by his maternal grandmother, Dorothy Avery; paternal grandmother, Anna Aviles.

Family and friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 23 at the Norman L. Waterman Funeral Home, Inc. at 124 W. Miller St. in Newark. Funeral Services and burial will take place in Long Branch, NJ.

In memory of Chris, please consider donations to the family c/o the funeral home.

You may light a candle of memory or condolence by visiting www.watermanfuneralhome.com.