Spencer Korwin, a former Team USA triathlete and Manhattan resident, drowned while swimming off Shelter Island on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, during a family vacation. He was 38.
Korwin was a guest at The Pridwin Hotel and entered the Shelter Island Sound for a swim shortly before 8 a.m. He was reported missing when he did not return to shore. A search was initiated by the Southold Town Police Department, involving multiple agencies and the Coast Guard. A Southold dive team located Korwin's body underwater near the hotel dock.
Officials believe the drowning was accidental, pending the official determination by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office. Weather conditions were reported as good and unremarkable at the time of the incident.
Korwin, who graduated from Syracuse University in 2010, competed in the 2012 Triathlon World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand. He was also a sponsored Gatorade athlete for five years and founded Korwin Health & Wellness in 2021, a company focused on personalized fitness and holistic health plans.
During the summer of 2020, Korwin operated an outdoor summer camp for children in Southampton. He is survived by his wife and two young daughters, ages 4 and 1.
Following the incident, local residents and officials issued warnings about the area's water conditions, particularly ahead of the Labor Day weekend. Shelter Island Police Chief Jim Read noted that while the area near the Pridwin is not typically considered hazardous, open waters present constant considerations of tides, currents, and boat traffic.
A funeral service is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at Temple Israel in Manhattan.
