80-year-old man dies in Freeport boat sinking; eight others in family rescued
Boaters and emergency personnel at West Marina in Point Lookout where victims of a boating accident were transported Monday afternoon, Sept. 1, 2014. An 80-year-old man died after falling into the water as the boat he was in began to sink in the waters between Freeport and Point Lookout, Nassau County police said. Credit: Bill Bennett
An 80-year-old man died after falling into the water as the boat he was in began to sink in the waters between Freeport and Point Lookout Monday, Nassau County police said.
A 24-foot 2004 Maxum motor boat, carrying nine family members, including two children, ages 8 and 10, was navigating near Long Creek, north of the Loop Parkway Number 2 bridge, at 2:06 p.m. when it began having some kind of mechanical failure, authorities said.
As the boat began to flood, the operator called for help. Police were first called to the area near Lido Boulevard about 2:30 p.m. for a boat in distress and a medical emergency.
Town of Hempstead Bay Constables were nearby and were flagged down by the boat's occupants. Passing civilian boats also stopped to help, police said, and the Coast Guard from Jones Beach also responded.
Police said that as the constables approached, the boat began to partly submerge, sending the occupants into the water. The bay constables rescued the boat's occupants from the water.
The children had on flotation devices, police said.
Charles Dimaria, 80, died after suffering cardiac arrest while in the water, police said. Dimaria was pronounced dead at 3:09 p.m.
An unidentified woman, 73, who was suffering from chest pain, was taken to an area hospital and was treated and released, authorities said.
No other injuries were reported. The boat was towed to a Freeport marina.
The investigation is ongoing.
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