Man Rescued From Flanders Bay Dies

A man that was pulled out of Flanders Bay during a heroic rescue Monday has died, police said.

According to Southampton Town police, a call came in at 2:29 p.m. Monday from an individual aboard a vessel in Flanders Bay, north of Birch Creek, about a man who had been found unconscious and not breathing in the water.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Michael Fusco said Monday that a report came in from an Long Island Aquarium Atlantis Explorer tour boat Monday afternoon, after the man was spotted in distress in Flanders Bay.

The United States Coast Guard Station Shinnecock, which is located in Hampton Bays, had a boat in the area and responded, Fusco said.

"The Atlantis boat could not get the man onboard. He was unconscious," Fusco said. "The Coast Guard boat came alongside and pulled him out of the water."

The man's condition was assessed and his vitals taken; he was found to be unresponsive, Fusco said, and CPR was performed.

The USCG transported the man to the Point Road boat ramp in Flanders, where members of the Flanders fire department met the boat.

Southampton Town patrol officers were dispatched to the Birch Creek area, along with Southampton Town bay contables.

Flanders Northampton Volunteer Ambulance transported the subject to the Peconic Bay Medical Center where "vigorous and continued efforts" were undertaken to resuscitate the victim by the PBMC staff, police said.

"All measures to regain vital life signs in the subject were unsuccessful," police said.

Southampton Town detectives conducted an investigation and determined the deceased and a family member had been clamming in the area of Flanders Bay near the mouth of Birch Creek.

While the two men were working the ground in the area, wind and tidal conditions caused their aluminum boat to come off its anchor and drift a distance away.

The deceased had begun to swim toward the boat while the other man kept watch, police said. At some point, police said, he lost sight of the swimmer and realized that he did not reach the boat.

"He began to yell and signal for help," police said.

The passing Long Island Aquarium tour boat responded to the calls for help and, when informed of the situation, passengers aboard the vessel were able to locate the missing swimmer near the drifting boat a distance from shore.

The cause of death remains under investigation. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s office was notified and will assist with determining the cause of death. Names are being witheld during the ongoing investigation.