South Amboy U.S. Coast Guardsman Critical After 9-Story Fall

HAUPPAUGE, NY — A 24-year-old South Amboy man fell from a ninth-floor hotel balcony on Long Island last weekend, said police in Suffolk County, NY.

The man who fell is Alexander "AJ" Keating, a member of the U.S. Coast Guard who lives in South Amboy. He remains in critical condition, fighting for his life, say his loved ones on this GoFundMe they launched for him.

The fall happened just after midnight Sunday night at the Hyatt Regency Long Island, at 1717 Motor Parkway in Hauppauge: Keating was on the balcony of a room on the ninth floor when he fell over the railing at around 12:45 a.m. Monday, May 23, said police in Suffolk County, New York.

Keating survived the fall, but was last listed in critical condition at an unnamed Long Island hospital.

Keating is originally from Massachusetts but three years ago, he decided to join the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed to their Staten Island unit, said his loved ones.

He just re-enlisted for another six years with the Coast Guard and was planning to go to San Diego next week to work with TACLET (Tactical Law Enforcement Team, a unit that specializes in international drug interdiction), they said.

"AJ has had a horrific accident and is in critical condition," they wrote. "He has significant injuries and has a very long road to recovery ahead ... The military is taking great care of AJ and his family and all funds donated will go directly to AJ to offset any medical expenses not covered by his insurance, and to assist his family with travel and lodging expenses incurred from being so far from home."

"We don’t know how long or how expensive AJ’s road to recovery will be, but any additional funds not needed will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project or a similar cause. We all love AJ and we wish him a speedy recovery!"

You can donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/hel...

Suffolk County Police ask that anyone with information on the incident was asked to call Fourth Squad detectives at 631-854-8452.