ITHACA, N.Y. -- Authorities in Puerto Rico are continuing their investigation into what happened during a June 21 hike near the Arecibo Observatory that led to the deaths of two students -- one from a college in Florida and the second, whose body was found in the Tanama River June 24, from a college in Minnesota. Both are believed to have drowned.

At Cornell University, where the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC) operates the Arecibo Observatory's radio telescope on behalf of the National Science Foundation, President Hunter Rawlings expressed sympathy and concern for families of the students.

The body of Kristopher Reilly, 24, of Coconut Grove, Fla., was found in the Tanama River Monday morning, July 23. Reilly, who would have been a senior this fall at New College of Florida, was at the Arecibo Observatory for a National Science Foundation-sponsored summer program called Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU). He was among three students who set off for a hike from the radio-telescope facility to the river.

A day after the first body was recovered, rescuers diverted the flow of the river and found Colin "Mike" Ewers, 21, of Bloomington, Minn., who would have been a senior this fall at Carleton College. Ewers was participating in an astronomy research project at the observatory with another Carleton physics student and a faculty member from that college.

Cornell President Rawlings said: "Everyone associated with Cornell University and the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center is deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of Kristopher Reilly and Mike Ewers. We deeply appreciate the extraordinary efforts made by authorities and volunteers in the search for the students," he added.

A delegation from Cornell, led by Harold D. Craft Jr., vice president for administration and chief financial officer, and including NAIC administrators and counselors from Cornell University Health Services, flew to Puerto Rico June 24 to assist the families, as well as other students and staff of the observatory.