Man Drowns At Montauk's Ditch Plains Beach

MONTAUK, NY — A Montauk man drowned in the ocean off Ditch Plains Beach Tuesday, police said.

According to East Hampton Town Police, the incident took place at 7:34 p.m. when Benjamin Z. Kitburi, 31, went into the ocean with his fiance Persia Jensen, 26, of Montauk, and Jensen Turner, 32, of Montauk, to take a swim.

The three were quickly pulled to deeper water and separated by rough conditions and a strong rip current, police said. After becoming unconscious, Kitburi was pulled from the ocean by three nearby surfers who called 911 and began life-saving measures, police said.

The other two swimmers were able to get to shore and out of the water before collapsing, police said.

Montauk Fire Department EMS took Kitburi to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. Jensen was also taken to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital for evaluation and Turner was evaluated by Montauk Fire Department EMS at the scene, police said.