Fairfax County Man Drowns Off Martha's Vineyard While Swimming With Friend

MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MA — A Fairfax County man drowned off West Tisbury in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts on Monday, according to the state police.

Donald Reagan, 64, and his friend, a 68-year old Martha's Vineyard man, had been kayaking off Long Point Beach in West Tisbury when they decided to go swimming, police said.

"The victim is believed to have been caught in a riptide," Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio said in an email.

Reagan's friend attempted to save him, state police said, but the two became separated in the strong current. The Martha's Vineyard man was able to swim to shore and call 911.

West Tisbury Police and Tri-Town Fire Rescue and EMS were dispatched to the scene around 4 p.m for a report of two swimmers caught in a rip current.

Shortly before 5 p.m. on Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard recovered Reagan and brought him to shore, where first responders performed CPR, the Cape Cod Times reported. A Coast Guard helicopter transported Reagan from the beach to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to the report.