Flushing man drowns in Hempstead Lake park, two kids survive, state cops say

Fire department volunteers searching Hempstead Lake State Park Sunday for Flushing man later found to be drowned. Credit: Neil Miller
A Queens man drowned while paddleboarding Sunday in Hempstead Lake State Park, New York State Police reported.
Jing Li, 39, of Flushing was paddleboarding on Hempstead Lake with his two young children at about 5:45 p.m. when the paddleboard capsized, police said. Li’s body was located in the lake a short time later. He was transported to Mercy Medical Center, where he was declared deceased.
Li’s two children were assisted to the shore by a person in a kayak and were not injured.
New York State Park Police, Rockville Centre Police, Nassau County Police Aviation Unit, Freeport Fire Department, Lakeview Fire Department and East Rockaway Fire Department responded.
Chief James Galia of Lakeview Fire Department said Freeport located the victim and his agency took the victim to Mercy Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"We gave him the best chance we could give him," Galia said.
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