Man dies after jumping from Fire Island lighthouse; authorities investigate

Long Island, New York. — A tragic incident occurred on Friday afternoon when a man died after jumping from the observation deck of the historic Fire Island Lighthouse, in Long Island, authorities reported. According to the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), the incident was recorded around 1:45 p.m. and is currently being investigated by the Homicide Squad detectives along with the National Park Service. "Detectives from the Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad, along with the National Park Service, are investigating the death of a man who jumped from the Fire Island Lighthouse this afternoon," the SCPD said in a statement. The authorities confirmed that the subject, whose identity has not yet been revealed, was captured in images while approaching the monument, buying an entrance ticket and, minutes later, throwing himself into the void. After the fact, the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society announced the temporary closure of the 167-year-old structure. “The lighthouse is temporarily closed until further notice”, they reported in a Facebook post. Subsequently, they indicated that the monument would remain closed on Saturday, but would reopen on Sunday.

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The Fire Island Lighthouse, inaugurated in 1858 and remodeled in 1891 to preserve its iconic alternating white and black stripes, is considered one of the main tourist attractions on Long Island. With a height of 168 feet, from the top of its tower it is even possible to see the New York City skyline.

Another death near the lighthouse

This tragic event adds to another accident that occurred in the same area a week earlier, when a pastor from North Carolina drowned in Sailors Haven, 2.5 miles from the lighthouse. The victim, identified as "Ishmoile Mohammed", 59 years old, was swept away by a strong rip current on August 23rd. "They were having a great time. They were coming out of the water... and a rip current took him... His nephew turned to look and disappeared, just like that," recounted Pastor Rodney Camps, from Love City Church, during a subsequent religious service. The rescuers managed to pull Mohammed from the sea and transport him by plane to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, where he was pronounced dead.