Mohammadsadegh Kiani, of Plainview, dies in upstate drowning incident, New York State Police say

A Long Island man drowned in a paddleboarding incident at an upstate lake Saturday, state police said.

State Police said Mohammadsadegh Kiani, 36, of Plainview, went to Walton Lake in Orange County to visit friends when he lost his balance while sitting on an inflatable paddleboard about 40 feet from shore. Kiani fell into water believed to be about 6-7 feet deep.

Police said Kiani then began to struggle, slipped beneath the water and did not resurface.

Patrons at a nearby American Legion Post witnessed the incident and attempted to rescue Kiani. They pulled him from the lake and began lifesaving measures, until troopers and EMS personnel arrived.

Kiani was transported in critical condition to Garnet Health Medical Center in Middletown, where he died. The cause of death was accidental drowning, police said.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”