Found Deceased NY - Dr. Charles van der Horst, 67,marathon runner, Hudson River, 15 June 2019

[dotr]

Swimmer missing from race down New York's Hudson River

In this July 23, 2013, photo provided by Jenny Warburg, Dr. Charles van der Horst, standing at center, joins a Moral Monday protest at the state legislative building in Raleigh, N.C. Police were searching Saturday for the retired medical school professor and AIDS researcher from North Carolina who went missing during a marathon swimming race down New York's Hudson River. Tim Tyson sits before Van der Horst. (Jenny Warburg via AP)

NEW YORK -- Police were searching Saturday for a retired medical school professor and AIDS researcher from North Carolina who went missing during a marathon swimming race down New York's Hudson River.

Authorities say Dr. Charles van der Horst, 67, was reported missing just after 3 p.m. Friday near the George Washington Bridge. Police say a man who was watching from the river bank saw van der Horst disappear and called 911.

The New York City Police Department resumed searching for van der Horst on Saturday after suspending the search late Friday.

Van der Horst was taking part in a multi-stage 120-mile (193-kilometre) race down the Hudson called the 8 Bridges Race. Organizers cancelled Saturday's seventh and final stage of the race.

New York Open Water, the organization that runs the race, said in a statement, "Our thoughts are first and foremost with the Van Der Horst family and we ask that all respect their wish for privacy as they mourn this tragic loss."

 

[dotr]

https://nypost.com/2019/06/15/swimmer-missing-in-hudson-is-internationally-regarded-aids-researcher/
"The marathon swimmer who disappeared near the George Washington Bridge during a 120-mile race on the Hudson River is an internationally recognized AIDS researcher and former professor at the University of North Carolina.

Charles Van Der Horst, 67, of Chapel Hill, vanished on the New Jersey side of the bridge Friday afternoon during the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim, which stretches from the Rip Van Winkle Bridge in Catskill to the Verrazzano Bridge.

Authorities resumed the search for him Saturday around 10:30 a.m., an NYPD spokesman said.

He was a professor at UNC from 1988 to 2015, began doing clinical trials after he retired from teaching, and also works with health organizations in Africa that focus on AIDS."

 

[Steelslady]

Sounds like he had a heart attack maybe?

He just disappeared from a bridge he swam under?

 

[dotr]

In the water fearless, flying above life’s demons –Dr. Charles van der Horst

In the water fearless, flying above life’s demons –Dr. Charles van der Horst
By Charles van der Horst Special to The Herald-Sun

"Eyes closed I shouted ‘Marco!” while treading water in the only public pool in Hollandale, Mississippi.

Located in a small park surrounded by towering rich green magnolias, it was close to a regulation 25 yards. An answering chorus of “Polos” from a dozen children assaulted me from all directions. As I swam around the pool trying to catch one slippery child after another, they shrieked in high-pitched laughter and giggled uncontrollably."

"As an adult, I discovered open water swimming. Racing 15 miles in the Hudson River beneath the cliffs of West Point, dwarfed by an oil tanker with its propellers moving whump, whump, whump like some whale in heat, brought perspective as to the vastness of nature. When the surf was high in the ocean forcing me to move a quarter mile off shore or more, the beach moving in and out of view as the waves tossed me about like a piece of flotsam, I embraced the calm knowledge that I could ride them out despite my primal fears of the immense crushing power.

My friends and I, like-minded men and women of all ages and abilities, haul ourselves out of bed in the early-morning darkness to focus on swimming for 60 minutes every day. Each year prior to the big meet, we transform ourselves into buff daddys and mommys through weight lifting, targeted practices and dropping pounds to our “fighting weight,” allowing us to maintain our swim times despite the passing years. Our goal is to beat our own times, our “personal best.” Despite our advancing years we compete credibly against swimmers half our age.

Winning, although not everything, is still nice."

 

[Razz]

They still haven't found him?! Wow. Can't imagine swimming in the Hudson.

 

[dotr]

North Carolina swimmer confirmed dead after going missing in Hudson River during multi-day race
A North Carolina man who went missing in the Hudson River near the end of a 120-mile swimming race has been confirmed presumed dead by family members.

Charles Van Der Horst, 67, was participating in the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim Friday when he went under around 3:10 p.m. near the New Jersey side of the George Washington Bridge during the second-to-last stage of the multi-day race.

“Charlie exemplified living life to its fullest,” his family said in a statement shared on Facebook Saturday afternoon. "He put all of his passion and zest into everything he did, from his love of his family, friends and community, to his swimming to his work on social justice and in the medical field.”

 

[amymarie]

This is an expensive race! Almost $6,000 because you have to pay for a kayaker support person to follow you. I wonder what happened where he wasn’t able to signal to his support person.

 

[Steelslady]

This is an expensive race! Almost $6,000 because you have to pay for a kayaker support person to follow you. I wonder what happened where he wasn’t able to signal to his support person.

Unless that was the man under the bridge that called 911? Maybe they stay ahead of them in the race by a 100 feet or so?

So they've determined that he is deceased, but still haven't found his body, correct?

 

[dotr]

Swimmer, 67, dies during Hudson River marathon, race organizers say
"Authorities continued to search for van der Horst, but New York Open Water, the organization that operates the race, posted on Facebook Saturday that the doctor was dead.

"He was participating in several stages of the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim when he went under at the finish of Stage 6," the organization wrote, adding that he "exemplified living life to its fullest."

 

[DAMages]

I don’t doubt that if someone saw him go under, and they can’t find him, that he has passed away. But somehow I still find it strange that there are all these public announcements of his death before they’ve found a body. Seems unusual in a missing person’s case.

Very sorry for his family and coworkers. :-(

 

[amymarie]

I forgot to add my link: www.8bridges.org

However, it looks like the website has been taken down.

This link also has information about the race: 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim – New York Open Water

This article confirms there was a safety supervisor:

Swimmer apparently drowns in Hudson River during 120-mile race


A safety supervisor was monitoring the swimmers at the time of his disappearance, organizers said.

"We can confirm that all swimmer safety protocols were in place and that the NYPD was escorting the field," organizers said. "We will continue to work closely with the authorities and will provide updates as they become available."

 

[Darling136]

https://nypost.com/2019/06/18/missing-marathon-swimmers-body-recovered-from-hudson-river/

Found deceased

 

[TristanP]

I’m glad they found him. At least it will keep the family from always wondering.

 

[dotr]

Rest in peace good Doctor.
https://nypost.com/2019/06/18/missing-marathon-swimmers-body-recovered-from-hudson-river/
"Dr. Charles Van Der Horst’s body — still wearing a swimming cap and swimming trunks — was discovered around 9:50 a.m. along the Hudson River shoreline near Dyckman Street, cops said.

Authorities were able to quickly identify the body of the 67-year-old North Carolina man because he was wearing a medical alert bracelet with his name on it, police sources said."