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Criminal Investigation Into NYC Girl's Drowning
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 26, 2010
Modified Jun 26, 2010
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 26, 2010
Modified Jun 26, 2010
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The drowning of a NYC sixth grade student during a class trip to Long Beach is now under criminal investigation. Nicole Suriel, 12, and other Columbia Secondary School students were in the water, even though there were signs clearly indicating no lifeguards were on duty. A high-ranking source told the Post, "We're looking to see if any of the adults involved in this have any criminal responsibility. There's a crime called endangering the welfare of children, and it's hard to see how this doesn't fit that description."
The students were visiting the beach as a reward for fundraising. There were three adults—first year teacher Erin Bailey, substitute teacher Joseph Garnevicus and college intern Victoria Wong—supervising 24 students. Suriel's parents say they never signed a permission form while other parents say that the permission form said nothing about swimming or visiting a beach. One student said that one of the adults allowed kids to go into a limited area of the water. Nicole was swept out by a current and it took 90 minutes to find her.
At her funeral yesterday, her mother cried, "My daughter! My daughter!... Let me see my daughter!" in Spanish. Nicole's third-grade teacher said, "She was so … so humble, and so willing to help other people. And that's the type of student you'd want to have." And a family friend told the Daily News, "I can't say they should not have gone, but you have to be careful. Adults have a responsibility to oversee the kids they serve."
Yesterday, three people were rescued from Long Beach, when a sandbar collapsed. Last month, a 19-year-old Brooklyn man drowned off Long Beach when he was swpt away by a riptipe. He reportedly did not know how to swim.
Tagged
columbia secondary school
drowning
investigation
long beach
nicole suriel
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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