Community Corner

Hero Recounts Dramatic Flanders Bay Rescue Attempt

Despite a young woman's heroic efforts, one of the two men pulled from the water Monday died.

What started out as a normal workday for Remsenburg resident Alexa Lampasona, 21, ended in tragedy Monday as she tried desperately to save a man from the waters of Flanders Bay.

Lampasona, a recent Manhattan College graduate who works aboard the Riverhead Aquarium's Atlantis Explorer tour boat, was the so-far unidentified young woman who jumped into the water to try and save an unconscious man she spotted in Flanders Bay.

Despite rescue attempts, the man died, police said Tuesday.

Lampasona described the frightening experience. "It was very scary to see the man in the water," she said.

According to Southampton Town police, a call came in at 2:29 p.m. Monday from an individual aboard a vessel in Flanders Bay, north of Birch Creek, about a man who had been found unconscious and not breathing in the water.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Michael Fusco said Monday that a report came in from an Long Island Aquarium Atlantis Explorer tour boat Monday afternoon, after the man was spotted in distress in Flanders Bay.

The United States Coast Guard Station Shinnecock, which is located in Hampton Bays, had a boat in the area and responded, Fusco said.

"The Atlantis boat could not get the man onboard. He was unconscious," Fusco said. "The Coast Guard boat came alongside and pulled him out of the water."

The man's condition was assessed and his vitals taken; he was found to be unresponsive, Fusco said, and CPR was performed.

The USCG transported the man to the Point Road boat ramp in Flanders, where members of the Flanders fire department met the boat.

Lampasona said she didn't think twice about trying to save the man. "At the aquarium we are trained to know what to do in the situation if someone is overboard. However, it has never happened to me before, especially with an unconscious man. Initially, I was holding on to a ladder on the boat with one hand and attempting to put the rope around the man with the other. I was able to put the rope around his head and one of his arms but I couldn't reach the other arm. That's when I decided to go in the water."

On the fateful day, Lampasona said luckily, there were two back-ups on the boat, a speaker, and the captain, as well as high school interns, who helped to call 911 and "distract the children on the tour," she said.
 
"It was extremely hard to get him on the boat," Lampasona said. "The Coast Guard had been called and the best we could do was attempt to keep his head above water. After I had out the rope around his middle, two men passengers pulled on the rope to keep him above the water. At that point, I was holding his head to keep it above water with his body."

Upon hearing of the man's death, Lampasona described her feelings. "I was extremely sad to hear that he didn't make it. All I wanted while I was in that water was for him to be all right. I kept thinking that this man could be someone's dad, husband, brother, and cousin — and couldn't help thinking how this will affect his loved ones. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, and I am very sorry for their loss."

Despite the tragedy, Lampasona said she would do the same thing in a heartbeat. "I realized that I can remain calm under pressured situations, and with that knowledge I know I would do something like this again."

Flanders Northampton Volunteer Ambulance transported the subject to the Peconic Bay Medical Center where "vigorous and continued efforts" were undertaken to resuscitate the victim by the PBMC staff, police said.

"All measures to regain vital life signs in the subject were unsuccessful," police said.

Southampton Town detectives conducted an investigation and determined the deceased and a family member had been clamming in the area of Flanders Bay near the mouth of Birch Creek. 

While the two men were working the ground in the area, wind and tidal conditions caused their aluminum boat to come off its anchor and drift a distance away.

The deceased had begun to swim toward the boat while the other man kept watch, police said. At some point, police said, he lost sight of the swimmer and realized that he did not reach the boat. 

"When his friend was flagging us down saying he didn't reach it to the boat I was in disbelief," Lampasona said

"He began to yell and signal for help," police said.

The cause of death remains under investigation. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s office was notified and will assist with determining the cause of death. Names are being witheld during the ongoing investigation.
 


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