By Carol Tannenhauser
Police removed an “unidentified, unconscious, unresponsive male in his 30s” from the Hudson River, at West 79th Street and Riverside Drive, at 12:58 pm Tuesday, following a 911 call, an NYPD spokesperson told WSR. “EMS responded and the man was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death, the spokesperson said. There is no information yet about how long the man might have been in the water.
Thanks to Robin Corey for the tip and photograph.
Can someone explain to me why officials are often quoted as saying “pronounced deceased” instead of “pronounced dead”? I find it very strange that it seems to have changed.
And why do they say “male” instead of “man”?
I hadn’t noticed this change, but maybe it’s related to the usage of “passed” instead of “died.” People seem to think it’s unseemly to say “dead” or “died,” even though (or perhaps because) it’s the inevitable fate that awaits us all.
there is now a term for this way of using the language: Delusional Toxic Positivity, ( https://solaramentalhealth.com/toxic-positivity-the-dark-side-of-good-vibes-only/ )
awareness of this could lead to change. one can only hope.
Military organizations (like police forces) are not good with the English language.
It would not take long for ‘dead; ‘death’ and so forth to reclaim their rightful place in speaking correctly and accurately.
Another creeper is ‘it is not clear’. I think it means ‘we (or it) is unknown’.
What is wrong with saying ‘We don’t know’, or ‘I don’t know’?
Deceased is a gentler word.
What a gruesome picture. Disappointed WSR would publish it.
Wow sad i live down the block may he rest in peace
deceased is the clinical term.
We are supposed to be living in a “kinder, gentler” time, and no one should have to be distressed by what is being presented to them.