40-year-old Yonkers man, Boyce ‘Scoop’ Coleman drowns in Hudson River off a Yonkers marina trying to save an autistic boy Sunday evening around 7pm.
Several people jumped into the water to save the 6 year boy who was still conscious was quickly pulled to safety, according to authorities.
At the annual cookout, one witness shared, “the mother of an autistic child was overly socializing and her son climbed the gate and jumped into the water,” according to woman in attendance who wanted to remain nameless. “Scoop jumped in to help and the water current was to strong and took him under.”
Another frightened eye-witness described the scene. “We turned around, we seen another guy go down. I was screaming, telling them, please get the guy who’s drowning, but nobody could get to him,” the woman said.
Marine units from Yonkers and the NYPD desperately tried to save the man, but pulled his lifeless body from the water nearly an hour later.
Mr. Coleman was rushed to St. Joseph’s Medical Center but could not be revived, authorities said.”Unfortunately, one of the heroes tonight became a victim himself,” Mayor Mike Spano said at the scene during a news conference at the marina off Warburton Avenue.
The investigation into the incident is still ongoing. An autopsy on Scoop is scheduled for Monday. We will bring you more details as they develop. Anyone who has any information is asked to call the Detective Division at 914-377-7724.
