Updated: Body recovered from Saratoga Lake ID’d as Mechanicville canoeist; Windy conditions cited as factor in death

SARATOGA LAKE – A Mechanicville man died on Saratoga Lake Thursday morning after he fell from his canoe near Brown’s Beach, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Officials said.

Divers recovered the body of Christopher Lavigne, 44, of Mechanicville mid-day Thursday after he disappeared underwater earlier, officials said.

Rescuers were called to the lake just before 9:30 a.m. for a canoeist in the water yelling for help, Sheriff Michael Zurlo said previously.

Bystanders attempted to help, but by the time they could get there, the canoeist had gone under, Zurlo said.

The call came in for a spot about a quarter mile north of Brown’s Beach.

The Sheriff’s marine patrol and dive team searched the area with the help of New York State Police Aviation and the Corinth Fire Department. The dive team then recovered Lavigne’s body.

Lavigne had been in the canoe alone and officials believe that windy conditions on the lake were responsible for him falling out of the canoe, officials said. The craft was also described Thursday as a kayak.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Arvin Hart, Malta Ridge, Quaker Springs and Round Lake fire departments, as well as dive teams from South Glens Falls and Corinth fire departments. Greenfield Fire District assisted with an unmanned aerial system. Malta-Stillwater EMS and Stillwater Police also responded.

Categories: Uncategorized