Manhattan Man Drowns Off Shelter Island Hotel Dock

A 38-year-old Manhattan man drowned Wednesday while on a family vacation at a Shelter Island hotel, marking the second fatal drowning in those waters this summer, police said.

Spencer M. Korwin entered Shelter Island Sound near Crescent Beach at approximately 8 a.m. and never resurfaced. His wife waited several hours before notifying hotel staff, who then contacted 911. Shelter Island Town Police, the Shelter Island Fire Department and Shelter Island Town Emergency Medical Services arrived shortly after noon in response to a missing-swimmer report.

The search expanded to include mutual aid from across the East End, with marine units from the East Marion, Greenport, Southold and Orient fire departments joining the operation. The Southold Town Police dive team and drone unit, along with U.S. Coast Guard vessels and a helicopter, also participated.

Divers ultimately found Korwin submerged in the area where he had gone into the water earlier that morning, adjacent to the dock. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities identified the hotel as The Pridwin, a waterfront resort on Shore Road near Crescent Beach, though officials indicated they were not immediately confirming the name of the property.

Korwin, described in multiple reports as a former Team USA triathlete and wellness coach, had been staying at the hotel with his wife and family. Police said no criminality is suspected and the incident is being treated as accidental. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner is conducting a full investigation to determine the official cause and manner of death.

The fatality is the second drowning death in Shelter Island waters this season. In May, Timothy Magambo, 18, a SUNY Albany student from Pelham, N.Y., drowned while attempting to swim between Wades Beach and Shell Beach on the island.

Shelter Island Sound's North Channel is known for powerful tidal currents that can produce dangerous conditions even for strong swimmers.