Two men have died and a woman and child had to be taken to a hospital after a party of four people set off from the beach at Hammonasset State Park Sunday evening.
It appears the four set off on a kayak and a paddleboard in what were very windy conditions Sunday.
The alarm was raised in the early hours of Monday morning, and a search got underway.
The woman and girl were found by local residents on a beach in the Long Island town of Southhold, and were taken to Eastern Long Island Hospital, where they're reported to be in stable condition after suffering hypothermia.
A 31-year-old man found with them was pronounced dead. After a search of several hours, involving the U.S. Coast Guard and several local fire departments, the body of the second man, a 41-year-old from Manchester, was found also on a Long Island beach.
The incident is being investigated by the state's Environmental Conservation Police.
Captain Ryan Healy said it's not clear yet what the party's intention was.
"Unfortunately, I don't think they were quite well prepared for the weather forecast, almost a gale warning for the day," he said.
Healy said it's important for anyone planning to be on the water to be properly prepared.
"The Sound right now is around 60 degrees," he said. "Hypothermia can still set in, in those types of temperatures." He also advised anyone who goes out on the water to let friends or family know where they plan to go, and what time they can be expected back.
