BLASDELL, N.Y. (WKBW) — A 16-year-old from Lackawanna died Monday night while swimming at Woodlawn Beach State Park.
According to New York State Police, two teenage boys were in the water around 5:30 p.m. when one of the boys, Aidan Walden, couldn't keep his head above water. Other beachgoers helped remove Walden from the lake. A witness tells 7 News a lifeguard performed CPR before the Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Company arrived.
“I can't believe this,” declared Angela Harrer, mother of Walden. “All I know is he was with his friend, and they swam out too far and he couldn't stay above the water."
Walden was taken to South Buffalo Mercy Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“The detective brought me in the room to tell me and I just dropped to the floor -- was sobbing and screaming. I just couldn't believe this happened because he could swim. He was a good swimmer. He's been swimming since he was five,” cried Harrer. “It just terrible, terrible."
Aidan's mother met me at Woodlawn, telling me it was supposed to be a fun day at the beach with his best friend, Nick.
I’ve been told by both the family and a beachgoer that witnessed the incident that the teen was swimming in an area not designated for swimming.
“They told me that he swam out past where they had the guarded area. And by the time they got swimming, he was under the water,” described Harrer.
“So, they had it like blocked off because of the big waves, and him and his friend Nick, they went under the water past the rope and then we believe he couldn't stay afloat. The current under the water pulled him under and then his friend Nick wanted to go get help,” replied Ava Walden, sister.
Tuesday at Woodlawn, beachgoers were in the water not designated for swimming, still, they swam at their own risk, the area the family believes Aidan was in.
“He died having fun. He was trying to have fun he was trying to be a dangerous,16, young boy doing stupid stuff and ended badly,” Walden remarked.
14-year-old Ava Walden is Aidan’s sister. She tells me she wants you to know her brother was a loving person.
“He was playful. He would comfort you when you were sad. He will comfort you all night -- all day. He was just a brilliant kid. He had good grades in school,” recalls Walden.
A GoFundMe has been created by the family to raise funds to help cover funeral arrangements and says in part:
"Aidan was a outgoing young man who enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, camping trips to Deep Woods with his grandma (Uma) swimming, playstation and riding his bike. Aidan was the son of the late Richard M. Walden. He is survived by his (mother) Angela Harrer, (sister) Ava Walden, (stepmother) Dessi Walden, maternal (grandmother) Robin Harrer, aunts, uncles and cousins. The funds raised will cover funeral arrangements and a burial, he will be laid to rest beside his late father, Richard Walden."
This is believed to be the first drowning at Woodlawn since 2007, when 10-year-old Bethany Rose Morgan of East Aurora died while swimming in the lake.
