UTICA, NY – Police and rescue teams continue to search the Mohawk River to find a fisherman who entered the water and never resurfaced. The search is continuing down river as the man has yet to be found. At this point he is feared dead.
UPDATE: At 10:05 am on Saturday, police reported they have found the body of Musar Pwa in the Mohawk River.
On July 27th, 2022 at approximately 5:55PM Utica Police units were dispatched to the Leland Ave entrance to the Mohawk River regarding an individual who went into the water and did not surface.
“It was reported by two witnesses who were fishing in the area that a male had walked into the water, went under, and did not resurface. After a few moments of not seeing the male surface from the water they immediately contacted the Oneida County 911 Center and attempted to render aid to the male, but were unsuccessful in locating him. The first arriving officers assessed the scene and determined that extra assistance was needed for the search,” police reported.
The Utica Police Department issued the following statement:
Soon after the Oneida County Underwater Search and Rescue Team arrived on scene and began an extensive above and below water search. The team searched until dark and resumed operations on July 28th and again did not locate anything after covering the entire search area.
On July 29th members of the Utica Police Department conducted land based searches for several miles eastbound of the location utilizing Utility Terrain Vehicles, drones, and on foot personnel. Additionally we requested assistance from the Department of Environmental Conservation in deploying a watercraft to search above the water on the river.
As of the time of this release that search is currently on-going, and updates will be released as available.
Tentative identification of the male who entered the water has been made, and his name is Musar Pwa age 42 of Utica. His family has been notified and we assisting them in whatever resources we can provide for their needs at this time.