Man Drowns After Rip Current Drags Him Under at New York Beach

A man visiting from South Carolina lost his life after being pulled into a rip current at a Long Island beach over the weekend, according to Suffolk County Police.

Authorities identified the victim as 59-year-old Ishmoile Mohammed. Police said he was swimming at Sailors Haven on Saturday at approximately 2:45pm when a rip current carried him west. Emergency crews rescued Mohammed from the water and had him airlifted to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Officials noted that Sailors Haven had been closed through Saturday due to unsafe swimming conditions caused by Hurricane Erin. While most beaches in Long Island and New York City reopened that day, some restrictions remained in place depending on local conditions, Governor Kathy Hochul announced.

“While we are eager to have safe swimming resume at Jones Beach and wading at Robert Moses, State Parks continues to urge beachgoers to remain alert in the water,” said New York State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons.

Authorities said hazardous surf has been an ongoing issue this season even before Hurricane Erin’s arrival. In New Jersey, two fatalities linked to rip currents have already been reported this summer, one in Seaside Heights and another involving a young girl in Belmar.

Man Drowns After Rip Current Drags Him Under at New York Beach