An 80-year-old man died Monday afternoon after suffering a heart attack while on board a sinking boat that became stranded off of Freeport, Nassau County police said.
Charles Dimaria was traveling with eight other family members just after 2 p.m. when the 24-foot Maxum motor boat experienced mechanical failure north of the Loop Parkway and began to flood, police said.
After calling for help, the family was able to get the attention of Town of North Hempstead Bay Constables and other boats in the area, police said.
The constables successfully rescued the family despite the boat beginning to submerge as the constables approached. Also on board were two children—8 and 10 years old—who were both wearing floatation devices, police said.
The Point Lookout-Lido and Merrick fire departments both responded and transported Dimaria and an unidentified 73-year-old woman who was suffering from chest pain to a local hospital, police said.
Dimaria was pronounced dead at 3:09 p.m., police said. The woman was treated and released.
The other family members were uninjured.
The boat was towed to a marina in Freeport.
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
