Community Mourns 'Soulful, Compassionate' Montauk Man Who Drowned

MONTAUK, NY — The community has come together with love to honor a man who drowned in Montauk last week.

A GoFundMe Page, "Benjamin 'Zane' Kitburi," was created by his friends and family.

"On the evening of July 19, Zane, Persia and Jensen enjoyed a picnic at Ditch Plains Beach following a perfect day," the GoFundMe said. "They entered the water together in joy and peace within this beautiful town and people, each other’s friendship and love of life itself. The riptide aggressively took each of them by surprise and carried them apart. They fought to stay together, for each other."

Organizers of the page added: "Benjamin Zane Kitburi’s life was taken in the struggle. Persia Harmony Jensen, his fiance and beloved, has suffered grief that cuts away the sense and soul of understanding. Jensen Elizabeth Turner, his longtime cherished friend, is faced with revisiting the senselessness of sudden loss too soon after her own mother’s unexpected passing."

According to East Hampton Town Police, the incident took place on July 19 at 7:34 p.m. when Kitburi, 31, went into the ocean with his fiance Jensen,26, of Montauk, and Jensen Turner, 32, of Montauk, to take a swim.

The three were quickly pulled to deeper water and separated by rough conditions and a strong rip current, police said. After becoming unconscious, Kitburi was pulled from the ocean by three nearby surfers who called 911 and began life-saving measures, police said.

The other two swimmers were able to get to shore and out of the water before collapsing, police said.

Montauk Fire Department EMS took Kitburi to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. Jensen was also taken to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital for evaluation and Turner was evaluated by Montauk Fire Department EMS at the scene, police said.

"Zane has left a hole in his family of the four Kitburi brothers. Mick, Remingten and Maverick forever carry him forward," the GoFundMe page said. "He is a soulful man who touched everyone he encountered. His sudden departure is a blow to his parents' joy and foundation. However, Zane is soulful, compassionate, and intuitively kind. The outpouring of love and sadness is a testament to the next shared sentiment to honor the memory of Benjamin Zane Kitburi. His last breath was in concern to save Persia and Jensen."

A celebration of Kitburi's life, hosted by Roberta’s and The Surf Lodge, was held on Tuesday.

To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

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