Fish Creek drowning victim ID’d as Clifton Park man

PHOTOGRAPHER: Patrick Dodson

A yellow tarp covers a body recovered from the shore of Saratoga Lake at Lee's Campground on Wednesday, July 23, 2014.

Authorities have identified the person who died Wednesday afternoon in Fish Creek as a Clifton Park resident: Daniel J. Gurnett, 49, of 9 Hillcrest Drive.

An autopsy done at Albany Medical Center on Thursday morning confirmed the cause of death to be asphyxiation due to drowning, Chief Deputy Richard L. Castle said in a news release.

“Nothing in the autopsy or through the investigation indicates any foul play at this time, however the investigation is continuing,” the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Sheriff Michael H. Zurlo said Gurnett was found face-down in the water near a rental dock area at Lee’s Campground, and appeared to have been in the water only a short time.

The park manager had been alerted to a possible problem, and called 911 at 1:24 p.m. Wednesday, as soon as he saw the body floating near a docked pontoon boat.

It is believed Gurnett was visiting people at the campground, and had gone swimming, perhaps to beat the oppressive heat and humidity of the afternoon, when the heat index reached the mid-90s.

Zurlo said swimming may be an appealing way to cool off, but people need to be careful. “If you’re going to go swimming on a day like this, always have someone with you,” he said at the scene Wednesday.

Saratoga Springs city police, the Quaker Springs Fire Department and General Schuyler Emergency Squad all responded to the scene, along with sheriff’s deputies.

The death was Saratoga County’s second drowning in barely a month.

On June 13, 52-year-old Diane Henderson drowned after going rafting with family members on the Kayaderosseras Creek in Milton, in an incident authorities said was caused by high and rapid-flowing waters.