BROOKHAVEN, N.Y. (AP) — Coast Guard officials say the captain of a tugboat that sank off the coast of New York died after panicking and jumping in the water without his immersion suit.
Petty Officer Sabrina Laberdesque says three surviving crew members had gotten their suits on and hung on to life rings as the boat went under Saturday afternoon about a mile off the coast of Fire Island.
Officials say the Sea Bear was behind two other tugboats heading back to base when it started sinking. Laberdesque says the survivors told the Coast Guard the captain panicked and jumped in the water without his suit.
Authorities identified the captain as Donald Maloney. His body was recovered a few hours after the tug sank.
Fire Island is a barrier island south of Long Island.
