Cops: Central Islip man, 41, drowns in Mattituck Inlet
Mattituck Fire Department divers search the Mattituck Inlet on Wednesday afternoon for a man whose body was later recovered, Southold police said. Credit: Randee Daddona
A Central Islip man drowned in the Mattituck Inlet on Wednesday afternoon after going into the water to help children, police said.
Leonel Ortiz Lemus, 41, "slipped into deeper water" after he had gone into the inlet to assist the children "who had gone in too deep," Southold Town police said in a news release.
Earlier on Wednesday, authorities gave the man's age as 38.
Police and the Southold and Mattituck fire departments responded to a call shortly after 3 p.m. about a swimmer in distress in a section of the inlet near Naugles Drive, officials said. Police divers recovered Lemus's body at 4:20 p.m., according to the news release.
Mattituck Rescue crews transported him to Peconic Bay Medical Center, the release stated.
Mattituck First Assistant Fire Chief Ted Webb said the water's conditions were calm.
"Everything was done that could possibly be done in this situation," he said.
A woman assisted by firefighters is believed to be a relative of a man rescued from the Mattituck Inlet and taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center. Credit: Randee Daddona
With John Asbury and Randee Daddona
Visiting Christmasland in Deer Park ... LI Works: Model trains ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV
Visiting Christmasland in Deer Park ... LI Works: Model trains ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV
