Holy Cross student missing after canoe capsizes in Connecticut River

A Holy Cross College student is still missing after a canoe capsized on Lake Hayward in East Haddam, Connecticut. The search now involves several agencies, all trying to find Dominick Tucci and figure out what happened.

The incident unfolded Saturday night. Another student was also involved—he got rescued by a Good Samaritan in a paddleboat and went to the hospital for observation.

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That student, also a Holy Cross undergrad, has since been identified. The college and local authorities are working together on the search and offering support to the campus community.

Incident Overview and Immediate Response

Two 20-year-old men were in a single canoe when it overturned on Lake Hayward. Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police and East Haddam responders arrived quickly.

A nearby resident heard cries for help. A Good Samaritan in a paddleboat managed to pull one man from the water.

He went to a local hospital and was released after evaluation. The second man, Tucci, was still missing as darkness fell Saturday.

Rescue teams got back to work Sunday, using water crews, aerial surveillance, and dive specialists. The search stretched into the evening.

Authorities suspended operations that night, planning to resume in the morning. The whole situation has left Tucci’s family, friends, and the Holy Cross community in limbo.

Ongoing Search and Identified Victims

Dominick Tucci, a 20-year-old junior at Holy Cross from Woodstock, Connecticut, is the missing student. The college confirmed the other person in the canoe is also a student.

Search crews kept at it, with the college stressing that safety comes first. They’re working closely with law enforcement and public safety partners.

Responders from the Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police and local fire and police agencies coordinated searches around Lake Hayward all day Sunday. They focused on the spot where the canoe went over.

Lake rescues here aren’t easy. East Haddam sits along the Connecticut River and leads into towns like Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Haddam.

Agency involvement: Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police, East Haddam Police, East Haddam Fire Department, and regional dive teams
Geographic focus: Lake Hayward and surrounding waterways near East Haddam, with attention to nearby towns along the river valley
Rescue assets: water craft, aerial drones/aircraft, and dive personnel
Family and campus support: Holy Cross has arranged counseling and outreach for students, faculty, and staff

College Response and Community Resources

Holy Cross College quickly alerted its community as the situation unfolded. The school activated support services and made counseling resources available to students, faculty, and staff dealing with the stress and grief that comes with an incident like this.

School officials said student safety is still their top priority. They also extended their thoughts and prayers to Tucci’s family, friends, and the broader campus community.

Local officials from East Haddam and nearby towns say the investigation will keep going as more information comes in. They’re asking people to stay away from the lake until the search wraps up and the area is safe for investigation and recovery efforts.

Connecticut residents from cities like Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, Norwalk, Waterbury, Danbury, and Groton have followed updates closely. It’s striking how a regional event like this can ripple through so many communities, from Bridgeport to Middletown and Mystic.

The incident highlights outdoor safety and crisis resources for families in towns like East Lyme, Old Saybrook, Chester, Glastonbury, and Windsor. Students and residents in these areas often take part in water activities along the coast or on inland lakes.

As the search stretches into a new week, authorities will likely share updates about any new findings and how the investigation is going. Honestly, it’s hard not to keep checking for news and hoping for some good news soon.

Here is the source article for this story: Holy Cross student missing after canoe capsizes in Connecticut

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