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Avinash Kuna was water skiing on a pontoon boat with three friends in Jefferson when he fell, panicked and slipped out of his life jacket, according to state police and witness Tom Davis, who posted a video on YouTube.
"Nobody jumped in the [expletive] water," he said. "Everyone's just screaming his name."
Kuna had been under water for nearly 10 minutes when local police and dive teams arrived, Davis said.
"Attempts to pull Kuna to safety were unsuccessful as he submerged in the water and did not re-surface," state police said.
No one on the boat knew how to swim and apparently just kept calling his name and throwing life vests into the water, according to Davis.
Marine Services Bureau troopers used side scan sonar sub-surface detection equipment to aid in locating Kuna.
Assisting in the search were State Police Aviation, Missing Persons, and T.E.A.M.S. Units as well as Jefferson Fire Department. The recovery efforts continued through the weekend, but were met with no results.
The search resumed Monday around 9 a.m. with troopers from the New Jersey State Police Canine Unit assisting.
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