‘It’s terrible’: Man who knew victim pulled out of Genesee River
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The man whose body was pulled from the Genesee River in Irondequoit on Monday was known by many at the marina where he docked his boat.
Police don’t expect foul play and believe he may have drowned. A man who knew him says his boat was docked right next to the boat of the man who was found lifeless in the water.
They were talking on Sunday and enjoying the nice weather on their boats over the weekend. He never imagined that would be the last time he would see him.
“This morning I come down, there’s cops everywhere, EMT, Firemen,” Nicholas Tantillo said.
News of the tragic drowning hurt Tantillo to the core. The victim was his boat neighbor and a great guy.
On Monday morning, when he got to the marina expecting to see him again, he saw dozens of emergency crews and was told a body was recovered from the water.
“I’m docked right next to him. He was a very nice guy, very sweet. He was feeding my dog treats the night prior so very upsetting,” Tantillo said.
Tantillo spoke about the last moments he spent with the victim and can’t make sense of how this could have happened to him.
“I left here about 7:45 or so. He was fine he was good. He was talking to us. I was excited for the 2023 boat season. I went home and came back and I heard someone fell in the water. It’s terrible.” Tantillo said.
The U.S. Coast Guard, The RPD Scuba Team, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Marine Unit responded to the marina along with Irondequoit Police.
“We were out there searching along the river in the marina, connecting sights, service searches, my crews personally were out there searching for about 4 to 4 and a half hours up along the banks of the Genesee River,” said Matthew Riesberg, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief Petty Officer.
The victim’s body was recovered, found not far from where his boat was docked.
“We have our hopes to find people alive. That’s why I think early notification to the Coast Guard on channel 16 or to 911 can help deter some of these situations, these unfortunate circumstances,” Riesberg said.