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11-Year-Old From Westchester Dies In 300-Foot Fall While Ice Climbing In Catskills

An 11-year-old boy from Westchester County died after falling about 300 feet while ice climbing in the Catskills.

The incident happened around 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29 in the Indian Head Wilderness area of the Catskill State Park near a popular ice climbing location known as the "Dark Side" off of Platte Clove Road.

The incident happened around 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29 in the Indian Head Wilderness area of the Catskill State Park near a popular ice climbing location known as the "Dark Side" off of Platte Clove Road.

Photo Credit: Google Maps

The boy, whose identity has not been released, fell about 300 feet down ice-covered ledges In the Town of Hunter, Greene County Sheriff Peter Kusminsky said.

The incident happened around 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29 in the Indian Head Wilderness area of the Catskill State Park near a popular ice climbing location known as the "Dark Side" off of Platte Clove Road, according to Kusminsky.

The victim had been ice climbing with a group which included his father, two other children ages 13 and 15, and three other adults. 

As they were walking out on a portion of a trail that was equipped with a hand line, the 11-year-old victim lost his footing, slipped and fell, Kusminsky said. 

Forest Rangers were able to get down to the scene where the victim was found dead. A determination was then made that it would be too dangerous to attempt to extricate the victim in the darkness, said Kusminsky.

A team of Forest Rangers proceeded in at 9 a.m. Sunday, March 1 to recover the body. At approximately  4:30 p.m., the body was recovered and taken to Ellis Hospital Morgue pending an autopsy. 

The investigation is continuing.

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