6-year-old drowns at Southampton beach on Long Island while trying to retrieve shoe from water
A 6-year-old girl was swept away by a creek in Southampton over the weekend and drowned in a Long Island bay, according to police.
The Southampton Town Police Department received a call just after 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 4 reporting a possible drowning at the beach at the end of Sebonac Inlet Road.
Officers learned the little girl was swept away in the Sebonac Creek, headed toward the Great Peconic Bay. As first responders rushed toward the beach, a kayaker was already bringing the girl's body back to shore, according to a news release.
The young girl was unresponsive, according to authorities. Police started CPR until paramedics arrived and took over. She was transported to Southampton Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Police identified the girl as Kiara Paolasin of Brooklyn and said she was visiting the beach for the Fourth of July weekend with her family.
Witnesses told officers that Paolasin went into the water to retrieve a shoe that was floating away. They said she slipped and got pulled into the current.
A 16-year-old family member tried to go into the water to rescue the little girl, but couldn't reach her due to the current, police said. The family was able to get the attention of a nearby kayaker, who paddled over and pulled her out.
The Southampton Town Police Department Detective Division is continuing to investigate. Anyone with information should call the police department at 631-728-5000 or the detective division at 631-702-2230. Officials can also be reached through the crime hotline at 631-728-3454 or by email.
