Woman Drowns In Paddle Board Yoga Class Tragedy

SOUTHOLD, NY — A Nassau County woman drowned in Southold Friday morning when a paddle board yoga class ended in tragedy, police said.

According to Southold Town Police, the incident took place at 9:52 a.m. on the waters of Mill Creek and Hashamomuck Pond.

Three women who were part of the class were paddling in Hashamomuck Pond; the three tried to make their way under the Long Island Rail Road bridge that spans Mill Creek when one of the paddle boarders had trouble with the strong current, police said.

Lisa Margaritis, 48, who authorities said was an experienced paddle boarder, attempted to assist the woman, police said. While trying to negotiate the strong current, Margaritis's paddle board got stuck on a bridge piling and Margaritis fell into the water, police said.

Margaritis, of Albertson, was tethered to the board and was unable to free herself, police said.

A good Samaritan who was jogging by the scene jumped into the water, freed Margaritis from the bridge piling and brought her ashore, police said.

Southold Town Police officers, members of the Southold Fire Department Rescue Squad and a Stony Brook University Hospital paramedic responded and initiated CPR, police said.

She was transported to Eastern Long Island Hospital where she was later pronounced dead, police said.

Margaritis was a cardiac nurse at two hospitals and a teacher at Garcia Muay Thai & MMA Gym in Glen Cove.