Kayaker dies after Catharine Creek accident

VETERAN—The Southport man who was hurt in a kayaking accident in Catharine Creek, Sunday, April 17, died at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Thursday, April 21.
According to officials, Nicholas Kozemko, 24, was kayaking that Sunday evening, when he went over a three foot drop.  Mark O’Donnell, state police spokesperson, said three individuals pulled him out of the water, but it took 15 minutes.  He added by the time emergency responders arrived, another person had performed CPR.
Marny Havens and several family members were at the property near Catharine Creek when the accident happened.  She said a teenager who had been fishing at the creek came to the house and said there had been an accident.  Havens said her son-in-law, Mike Colunio, jumped into the creek to help the man.  She added it was her other son’s girlfriend, Melissa Sheridan, who performed CPR.
O’Donnell said Kozemko was first taken to Schuyler Hospital, but then transferred to Robert Packer Hospital.  Schuyler County Sheriff’s Department and Schuyler Ambulance also responded to the accident.