Man Dies After Swimming Off Long Beach Without Lifeguards

LONG BEACH, NY — A swimmer in distress died Tuesday night when lifeguards were not on duty, the City of Long Beach said.

Members of the Long Beach Fire Department and off-duty lifeguards were at the shoreline within five minutes, a spokesperson for the city said.

The 30-year-old victim from Brooklyn was already out of the water when first responders arrived. He was given oxygen and went into cardiac arrest while being transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, the City of Long Beach said.

"This devastating loss of life was completely avoidable," Long Beach Fire Department Chief James Jacobi said in a statement. "While inviting, the ocean can be very dangerous. I can’t stress enough the importance of beach-goers not entering the ocean when lifeguards are off-duty."

Jacobi is also a member of the Long Beach Lifeguard Beach Patrol.

Lifeguards (Beach Patrol) on Long Beach are on duty seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Beachgoers are urged to familiarize themselves with basic beach safety prior to visiting Ocean Beach Park.

"People entering the ocean after-hours put both themselves and our first-responders at risk. The loss of life takes a tremendous toll on all of us. Our condolences go out to the family of the deceased," Jacobi said.