BOCES Student Drowns in Erie Canal
By: Ashley Zilka
Updated: September 10, 2012
Police say a passerby found Michael Vyrvoss, 20, in the canal near Slayton Avenue around 1 p.m. Monday. Vyrvoss is from Kendall and was a student at Monroe BOCES-2.
The teachers and administrators at BOCES-2 who worked with Michael Vyrvoss are distraught.
Vyrvoss was attending classes at Monroe BOCES-2 when he wandered off in the middle of the day and left the building. It took only moments for the staff to realize he was missing. The school immediately responded and emergency procedures kicked in.
"The school staff was looking for him and shortly there after we received a 911 call from the passerby," said Chief Douglas Nordquist, Ogden Police Department.
Police say the passerby and school nurse were the first to notice his body in the water.
"The passerby pulled the man out of the canal. At that time, he and the school nurse, who is assigned to the building, began CPR," said Nordquist.
Vyrvoss was taken to Unity Hospital where he was pronounced dead just before 2 p.m.
Police are still trying to determine how he got into the water. As of now, there are no signs of foul play. It looks like an accident.
BOCES released the following statement:"The entire Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES family is mourning the loss of one of our students. Counselors are available for anyone who may need assistance. We are doing a full internal investigation of the matter and cannot comment further at this point. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time, and our focus now will be on supporting the family, staff and students however we can."
