Lido Beach surfer dies after collapsing

A 28-year-old surfer died of an apparent heart attack Friday after collapsing while surfing off Lido Beach, emergency responders said.

Michael Connolly was surfing with two friends and had a history of heart problems, said Paul Gillespie, chief of Long Beach lifeguards.

Nassau police said Fourth Precinct detectives are investigating the death of Connolly, a Long Beach resident.

Witnesses saw him in distress at about 2:49 p.m., officials said, and he was taken out of the water by lifeguards for Long Beach and Lido Towers.

The surfer had collapsed on his board in the water near the border of Long Beach and Lido Beach, Gillespie said.

Connolly was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:20 p.m., police said.

With Ellen Yan and Patrick Whittle