Long Island Swimmer Found Safe After Disappearing Into Nor'easter Waves
An unidentified man contacted authorities after learning he was the subject of a search off Robert Moses State Park.
A Long Island swimmer who vanished into powerful waves generated by a severe nor'easter has been found safe, New York State Police announced Sunday. The individual, whose identity has not been released, reached out to authorities after becoming aware of the search efforts for him off Robert Moses State Park.
The man had been spotted jumping into approximately 18-foot waves near Field 3 on the western end of Fire Island on Saturday. The sighting prompted state police and park police to launch a search operation, which continued until nightfall amid 60-mph wind gusts and 25-foot sea swells. The search was initiated due to concerns for the swimmer's safety in the dangerous conditions.
The nor'easter has been responsible for at least one fatality. Leighton Brown, a 56-year-old NYCHA worker, died on Saturday when he was struck by a falling tree in East New York, Brooklyn. The tree fell near 700 Euclid Avenue around 3:30 p.m. Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed condolences to Brown's family, honoring his service to the city.
The powerful storm brought dangerous winds and flooding to the East Coast, impacting the New York City region significantly. Emergency services had urged caution for residents and warned against venturing into hazardous conditions, including rough seas.
With the swimmer located and confirmed to be unharmed, the immediate concern has been resolved. The joint statement from New York State Police and New York State Park Police indicated that no further public assistance is required at this time.