Shinnecock Trustee Knew Man Lost In Jet Ski Tragedy All His Life

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A person who died after a jet ski capsized in the Shinnecock Bay Monday has been identified — and a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation described heroic efforts to save him by all involved.

According to New York State Police, troopers responded to a call at 5:33 p.m. regarding a jet ski in distress in the Shinnecock Bay, off the shore of the Shinnecock Reservation.

The Southampton Fire Department, along with Southampton Town bay constables, raced to the scene and pulled John Jackman, 52, of Southampton, from the water; he was found hanging onto a capsized jet ski, police said. He was transported to Southampton Hospital for medical treatment and is expected to survive, police said.

Upon further investigation at the scene, Barry Riddick, 56, of Southampton, who'd been on the jet ski, was found unresponsive on the shore of the Shinnecock Reservation, police said.

He was transported to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

Both men were wearing life jackets and neither person was wearing a wetsuit, police said.

The Southampton Fire Department located Jackman and pulled him from the water; they also located Riddick on the shore and started with life0saving measures, police said.

The investigation is ongoing, police said.

Lance Gumbs, Shinnecock Indian Nation Tribal Trustee, described finding Riddick.

"We didn't even know he was there. One of our tribal members heard the cry for help and tried to go help. But he was two far out," Gumbs said. "The police boat finally got there and got the other man out of the water alive."

Another tribal member, Will Reed, had waded out to get him and was held at the hospital overnight, Gumbs said.

"Everyone was leaving but I said to a trooper that we needed to find that jet ski because we had oysters out there growing and I didn't want it ti start leaking gas or oil in our oyster beds," Gumbs said. "So we all started walking down the shore toward our cemetery and the troopers started flashing their lights toward us. We ran and they were pulling a body out of the waterway — which ended up being Barry," Gumbs said.

EMTs had to be called back to the scene and down the beach, because the area has no car access, he said.

Despite valiant efforts to save Riddick, and Southampton Village Police, who helped to get him back off the beach, "Barry didn't make it," Gumbs said. "We saved one and lost one. We had just had a funeral and burial at our cemetery that day." He added, "I've known him and the Riddick family from Southampton all my life."

Gumbs said he called Riddick's sister from the beach, and told her to rush to the hospital.

It was another hour before the jet ski washed up on shore, he added.

The New York State Police's Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling the incident. Anyone who may have witnessed or has information about the jet ski incident is asked to contact New York State Police's Troop L headquarters at 631-756-3300.

Patch photo courtesy Lance Gumbs.