15-Year-Old Poughkeepsie Boy Dies After Drowning at Marbletown Swimming Hole

MARBLETOWN, N.Y. — A 15-year-old Poughkeepsie boy died Sunday after drowning at a popular swimming area on Rondout Creek near High Falls Waterfall in the Town of Marbletown, according to New York State Police.

State police from the Kingston barracks responded at approximately 2:36 p.m. on July 19 to a 911 report of a teenage male drowning at the swimming hole, located near 1346 Route 213.

Investigators said the victim was identified as Matthew Strahan, 15, of Poughkeepsie. Police said Strahan had gone to the swimming area with a 24-year-old female family member for the day.

After being in the water for several minutes, Strahan slipped beneath the waterfall and began to drown, according to the preliminary investigation.

Several bystanders witnessed Strahan go underwater and attempted to rescue him but were unsuccessful.

A member of the New York State Police Underwater Recovery Team later arrived, located Strahan in approximately 8 to 10 feet of water, and removed him from the creek.

Strahan received lifesaving measures at the scene before being transported to Health Alliance Hospital in Kingston. Despite those efforts, he was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

State police said the investigation remains ongoing.

Agencies assisting at the scene included the Town of Rosendale Police Department, Marbletown Rescue Squad, Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, High Falls Fire Department, Stone Ridge Fire Company, Ulster Hose Fire Department, Kripplebush Fire Department, and City of Kingston Fire Department Paramedic.

Image: Rondout Creek. (MJPlante1/CC BY-SA 4.0)