Gavin Frey : “Teen Identified as Drowning Victim in Howard County | News, Sports, Jobs”

ASHTON PETERS/FOR THE EXPRESS
Members of the Avis Volunteer Fire Company are pictured searching the West Branch of the Susquehanna River for a missing swimmer on Saturday evening.

LOCK HAVEN — Tragedy struck over the weekend as an 18-year-old teenager from Howard lost his life in a drowning incident at the West Branch of the Susquehanna River near Lock Haven City Beach. The Lock Haven Fire Department, along with other emergency services, responded to the distress call.

Search and Rescue Efforts

Chief Tyler Wooding of LHFD disclosed that the department received reports of two swimmers in distress around 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, June 22. Upon arrival, responders found boaters trying to rescue a 22-year-old man, while the whereabouts of the second victim remained unknown.

The first victim was successfully brought ashore and received immediate medical attention before being transferred to UPMC Lock Haven. Later, he was airlifted to Geisinger Danville in critical condition. The identity of this individual has not been released.

Tragic Discovery

Despite an extensive search by emergency teams, the second individual, an 18-year-old male, was discovered submerged below the water’s surface, tragically deceased. The search operation led to the closure of the Jay Street bridge on both sides of the river.

Victim Identification

On Sunday, Clinton County Coroner Zach Hanna confirmed the identity of the deceased as Gavin Frey, an 18-year-old resident of Howard. As of Sunday, no further details regarding the incident were available.

Community Support

In response to the heartbreaking event, the Keystone Central School District has extended its support services to assist those affected by the tragedy.

A statement from the district mentioned, “Support will be available at CMHS for anyone in need of assistance in coping with the unfortunate drowning of one of our young community members.” Those seeking support can access these services at the high school’s main office entrance between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.