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Silver Lake Fatality Identified as Pittsfield Man
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The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity of the deceased man emergency personnel recovered from Silver Lake as Stephen Dus, 55, of Pittsfield.
The Pittsfield Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death and anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call 413-448-9700.
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Original post 9:04 a.m., June 23, 2020: PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The body of a swimmer was recovered late Monday night from Silver Lake after a nearly six-hour search that involved numerous local and state agencies.
Police and firefighters initially responded to Silver Lake for a water rescue at about 2:45 p.m. Two young fishermen who had been fishing off an area near where Silver Lake Boulevard meets Fourth Street had heard a swimmer in distress. The swimmer was described as an older man in his 50s or 60s.
The swimmer had just gone past the youths when he disappeared around the corner from their fishing spot. They then heard the swimmer yelling for help, they told first responders. They ran around the immediate area but couldn't find the swimmer and called 911.
The initial response consisted of Engine 3 (with Rescue 2 and Marine 1), Engine 6, Engine 5, Truck 2, and Car 2. Pittsfield Fire immediately put three rescue swimmers and watercraft Marine 1 (consisting of three more rescuers) in the water at the vicinity where the boys heard the calls for help.
The incident was expanded with the following agencies responding and assisting throughout the duration:
- Pittsfield Police Department
- Action Ambulance
- Berkshire County sheriff’s department and its dive team
- Stockbridge Fire Department
- Lanesborough Fire Department
- Hinsdale Fire Department
- State Department of Fire Services
- State Environmental Police
- State Police Dive Team
The Pittsfield Fire Department thanked all these agencies for their response and assistance throughout this incident as well as Berkshire Eagle photographer Ben Garver and off-duty firefighter Gabe Prendergast for use of their drones in aiding the search efforts.
Ultimately the search and rescue mission shifted to a recovery operation. The swimmer was discovered
deceased and removed from the water around 9. The incident was turned over to Pittsfield Police Department.
