Authorities say the death of a man who plunged into the Susquehanna River in Endicott has been ruled accidental.

47-year-old David Bower of Endicott is believed to have fallen from a ten-foot-high ledge near South Liberty Avenue on June 25.

Bower's body was discovered by forest rangers six days later near Grippen Park in West Endicott.

Village police chief Patrick Garey said an autopsy determined the cause of Bower's death was drowning.

Garey said investigators determined Bower and another person were drinking near the river during the early-morning hours.

After Bower fell from the ledge, the other person went to seek help from friends. Garey believes about an hour elapsed before authorities were notified.

The police chief said he doubts a more prompt reporting of the incident would have made resulted in a different outcome. He said the water was flowing quite fast in the area where Bower went into the river.

Several fire departments launched a water rescue operation after the call was received. A New York State Police SCUBA team later searched the river.

The man's body was found the following week by forest rangers who were training in the river.

Volunteer firefighters searched the Susquehanna River around 4 a.m. June 25, 2019. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
Volunteer firefighters searched the Susquehanna River around 4 a.m. June 25, 2019. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

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