CANISTEO — New York State Police responded to a report of a 5-year-old child who had gone underwater and needed assistance near County Route 119 along the Canisteo River on June 7 at approximately 2:44 p.m.
Upon arrival, troopers, EMS personnel and Canisteo Police Department officers searched the riverbank and located the child on a small island in the middle of the river along with several adults.
Due to the condition of the river, the island was not easily accessible, and EMS and police personnel utilized rescue ropes to cross the river and provide medical aid safely.
The North Hornell Water Rescue Team’s initial attempts to reach the group were unsuccessful due to hazardous conditions.
The Bath Volunteer Fire Department later deployed a rescue boat and successfully extracted the group from the island.
The 5-year-old was evaluated by EMS on scene, transported to St. James Hospital for further treatment and later released.
Following an investigation, police determined that Tessa L. Hamilton, 32, of Hornell, and Matthew R. Martin, 35, of Hornell, along with the 5-year-old, were tubing with a group on the river when the current pulled them into a partially submerged tree.
The 5-year-old fell into the water and was rescued by an individual from a separate group of kayakers.
The child was not wearing the proper flotation device.
During the investigation, a complete stay-away Order of Protection was discovered to be active against Martin, prohibiting him from contact with both Hamilton and the 5-year-old.
Hamilton was charged with reckless endangerment in the second degree and endangering the welfare of a child, both misdemeanors.
Hamilton was issued an appearance ticket returnable to Canisteo Town Court on July 3 at 10:30 a.m.
Martin was charged with reckless endangerment in the second degree, endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of criminal contempt in the second degree for violation of the active Order of Protection, all misdemeanors.
Martin was processed at SP Hornell and remanded to the Steuben County Jail for arraignment.
New York State Police were assisted by the Canisteo Police Department, North Hornell and Bath Fire Departments, and Steuben County EMS.
