'Near-death situation': Man shares details of harrowing tubing trip in Dutchess County river

Sagsveen says they were trying to avoid tree debris, but the current was too strong.

News 12 Staff

Jul 20, 2021, 9:32 PM

Updated 1,102 days ago

Share:

A Long Island man says a recent river trip in Dutchess County almost turned deadly.
Joe Sagsveen, of Dix Hills, says he and his girlfriend have tubed before without incident, but an outing took a dangerous turn on Sunday. It happened while they were in the Wassaic portion of the Ten Mile River.
"It was a near-death situation for her. I never freaked out so much in my life," he says.
Sagsveen says they were trying to avoid tree debris, but the current was too strong.
"Her tube got caught up and she fell out of the tube...And it was probably like 10-15 seconds that she was under the water. And then I felt her arm. And she was trying to get out. And I yanked her up. And that's how I dislocated my shoulder," he says.
The two were able to call for help as they clung to a log.
It took multiple agencies to get the couple back on land.
The Dutchess County Sheriff's Office says the recent rainfall made the river conditions dangerous. They say they hope this will remind people to avoid waterways after storms and always wear a life jacket.


More from News 12