41°
Benjamin Kitburi, age 31, died at Ditch Plains Beach in Montauk, around 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 19.
When officers arrived on the scene for a 911 call of a swimmer in distress, they found Kitburi, a resident of Montauk, had entered the surf minutes earlier with two others to take a swim, said Capt. Christopher Anderson, of the East Hampton Police.
The three were quickly pulled to deeper water and separated by rough conditions and a strong rip current, Anderson said.
After going unconscious, Kitburi was removed from the ocean by three nearby surfers who contacted 911 and began life-saving measures, he added.
The two remaining swimmers, identified as Kitburi's fiancee Persia Jensen, age 26, of Montauk, and Jensen Turner, age 32, of Montauk, were able to swim back to shore and leave the water before collapsing, Anderson said.
Montauk EMS transported Kitburi to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.
Jensen was also transported for evaluation. Turner was evaluated by EMS at the scene.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Brentwood and receive free news updates.
