The death is believed to be accidental, according to the Northwestern District Attorney's office.
Highland Lake in GoshenGOSHEN – The Hampshire County District Attorney’s office has identified Saturday’s drowning victim as Orlando Burgos, of Westfield.
Burgos, 49, of 40 Franklin St. died in the Upper Highland Lake in the Daughters of the American Revolution State Forest.
Burgos and two other men were in a canoe about 40 to 50 feet from shore, when the canoe capsized. The other occupants were able to swim to shore, according to Mary Carey, a spokeswoman from the Northwestern District Attorney's office.
“The death appears to be accidental in nature,” she said in a written statement.
The boat reportedly capsized at about 7:30 p.m. and police were notified at about 7:50 p.m.
Bystanders attempted to rescue Burgos, but could not find him after he sank below the water.
Searchers from at least six different organizations including the Goshen Fire Department, the Northfield Police Dive and Rescue Team, the Massachusetts Environmental Police and several state police units spent about three hours searching for him, said State Trooper Reid Bagley, a police spokesman.
A State Police helicopter assisted the search from above while the dive searched under water, he said.
“It was a very large operation,” he said.
Burgos’ body was recovered at about 10:45 p.m., Bagley said.