Police ID Man Who Died After Boat Capsizes; Search Still On For 1

POINT LOOKOUT, NY — Police have identified the boater who died after being thrown from a capsized vessel at Jones Beach Inlet Saturday as John Costa, 54, of Farmingdale — as a desperate search continues for Joseph Sparacio, 65, of Farmingdale, who was also aboard and thrown from the overturned boat.

Sparacio, police said, is white, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 180 lbs., of medium build, and bald; he was last scene wearing a dark-colored sweatshirt, green Grundens, white fishing boots and possibly an orange life jacket, police said.

According to Nassau County Police, homicide detectives are investigating the fatal boating incident that took place on Saturday at 10:14 am at the inlet at Point Lookout. A 2007 22-foot Angler fishing boat had been attempting to navigate rough water and was hit by multiple large waves, overturning and capsizing the vessel and throwing all four occupants overboard, police said.

Costa, the operator of the capsized vessel, was removed from the water by the New York City Police aviation dive team and transported by the United States Coast Guard to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:52 a.m. by a staff physician, police said.

A man traveling west with his family on a 68-foot vessel spotted two men in the water; he and his family helped the men, 24 and 26 years old, out of the water, while also beginning search and rescue efforts before police arrived, authorities said. The two men were transported to an area hospital by the United States Coast Guard and area fire departments for hypothermia and non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

The boat was recovered and removed from the scene by Nassau County Marine Bureau; the United States Coast Guard, Nassau County Police Department, New York City Police Department's aviation bureau, and fire departments from Long Beach, Point Lookout-Lido, Inwood, Lawrence-Cedarhurst, Wantagh, Freeport, Oceanside and Island Park all assisted in the rescue, police said.

Detectives are asking anyone with information to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or to call 911. All callers will remain anonymous.