Child, 6, Dies After Being Swept Away By Current Toward Great Peconic Bay In Southampton: Police

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A child died after being swept from Sebonac Creek toward the Great Peconic Bay on July 4, police said.

According to Southampton Town police, the incident took place at about 8:09 a.m. A 911 call came in about a possible drowning at the beach located at the end of Sebonac Inlet Road in Southampton, police said.

Members of the Southampton Volunteer Ambulance, Southampton Fire Department, Southampton Town marine patrol and Southampton Town Police Department responded to the scene, police said.

The first Southampton Town police officers from the patrol division arrived and were told that a juvenile female had been swept into the Great Peconic Bay by the current flowing through from Sebonac Creek, police said.

As the officers rushed toward the beach, a kayaker was bringing the child's unresponsive body back to shore, police said.

Patrol officers initiated CPR and EMS arrived shortly thereafter to continue resuscitation efforts, police said.

The child, identified as Kiara Paolasin, of Brooklyn, was transported to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said.

Southampton Police Department detectives conducted a preliminary investigation and learned that the child was with her family, visiting the beach for the July 4 weekend, police said.

Witnesses said that the child had gone into the water to retrieve footwear that was floating away and then, slipped and gotten pulled into the current, police said.

A family member, 16, attempted to go into the water to help the child but was unable to do so due to the strong current, police said.

The family was able to get the attention of a kayaker in the area who paddled over and pulled the unresponsive child from the water, police said.

The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’ Office was contacted and will conduct a follow-up investigation, police said.

The Southampton Town Police Department's detective division is continuing the investigation and has asked that anyone with information on the incident call 631-728-3454.