Va. man drowns off Vineyard

A 64-year-old man died after he got caught in a strong rip current while swimming in the ocean off of Martha’s Vineyard, State Police said on Tuesday.

Donald Reagan, of Virginia, was recovered by Coast Guard personnel, who brought him to shore where first responders performed CPR before transporting him to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Reagan was pronounced dead around 6 p.m. Monday.

Reagan and a 68-year-old friend from Martha’s Vineyard had launched their kayaks in Tisbury Great Pond early in the afternoon.

After paddling for a while, they beached their kayaks and personal floatation devices in “The Cut,” a large opening in the beach sand that separates the pond from the Atlantic Ocean at Quansoo Beach. It’s an area known for high surf and rip currents.

The two men then went for a swim in the ocean, and then a strong east rip current pulled them further away from the shore. The men tried to get out of the current, and Reagan’s friend “tirelessly attempted to hold onto and help Reagan when the latter began struggling,” State Police said.

“Unfortunately the strength of the current eventually separated the men and the friend’s repeated attempts to reach Reagan again were unsuccessful,” police added.

His friend was able to eventually exit the water, crawl on the beach to his phone and call the Dukes County Regional Emergency 911 Communications Center.

At 4:53 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard recovered Reagan and brought him to shore. A Coast Guard helicopter transported Reagan from the beach to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Although Hurricane Sam isn’t expected to approach the East Coast, dangerous surf and rip currents may develop this weekend because of the storm.

“Main concern during this period is increasing swell due to distant Sam,” the National Weather Service forecast reads. “This weekend into early next week. This could lead to an increased rip current risk for areas beaches.”