College Student, 20, Found Dead Days After He Disappeared When Canoe Capsized on Lake

Dominick Tocci's friend, who was also on the canoe, was rescued from the water by a resident after calling for help

NEED TO KNOW

• Authorities said 20-year-old Dominick Tocci was found dead on March 23, two days after he entered the water at Lake Hayward in Connecticut and disappeared
• Tocci was majoring in political science at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., according to the school
• A second Holy Cross student was involved in the incident but survived

A college student who disappeared after a canoe capsized on a Connecticut lake has been found dead.

The body of 20-year-old Dominick Tocci, of Woodstock, had been recovered from Lake Hayward in East Haddam on Monday, March 23, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

Tocci disappeared on the night of Saturday, March 21, after he and a friend entered the water when their canoe overturned, according to ABC affiliate WTNH and Fox affiliate WTIC.

DEEP said a nearby resident helped the surviving 20-year-old man to shore using a paddleboat after hearing calls for help on the lake, WTIC reported.

Tocci was a student at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., according to a statement shared by the school. He was a junior majoring in political science and was on track to graduate in 2027.

“The prayers of the entire Holy Cross community are with Dominick’s family, friends, classmates, professors and all who knew him,” the school said.

The school also indicated that the second individual involved in the incident was also a student at Holy Cross, according to ABC affiliate WCVB.

“We're grateful they have been accounted for," the school said in a statement. “We are in contact with local law enforcement in Connecticut as their search efforts continue.”

Tocci was last seen around 9:50 p.m. local time on Saturday, DEEP said in its statement. The search for him began later that evening and continued until he was found on Monday around 3 p.m.

"DEEP sends its condolences to Dominick’s family and loved ones," the agency added. "DEEP appreciates the efforts of all of the emergency response entities involved." 

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DEEP said the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine Tocci’s cause and manner of death. DEEP EnCon Police are investigating the incident, they added.

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