Crime & Safety

Boat Accident off North Carolina Kills Montauk Fisherman, 24

Donald Alversa pronounced dead at a Virginia hospital on Saturday night.

Donald Alversa, a 24-year-old Montauk man, died after a fishing accident aboard a dragger off the coast of North Carolina on Saturday night. 

His aunt, Corinne Alversa Wizelius, said he passed away at a Virginia hospital after he was injured and flown from the commercial fishing vessel, the "Jason & Danielle," based out of Montauk.

Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill, a spokesman out of the fifth district, said the Coast Guard received a request for a Medevac on Saturday night at about 8:30 p.m., from the 90-foot dragger, located about 45 miles northeast of Kill Devil Hills, N.C., on the Outer Banks. 

A crew member suffered a head and neck laceration after a wire parted, Hill said. He said the Coast Guard does not release or verify the names of people involved after a case has been closed.

An urgent marine broadcast was issued and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Elizabeth City, in North Carolina, responded. The injured was hoisted off the boat and onto the helicopter, Hill said. 

En route to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Virginia, the patient's condition changed and CPR was initiated, Hill said.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital at about 10:30 p.m., his family said. 

Corinne Alversa said her family is devastated by the loss. He would have been 25 on December 23. 

He is survived by his mother, Renee Alversa, of Montauk, and a brother, Kenneth Alversa, who is a police officer with the East Hampton Town Police Department.

Renee Alversa posted this message to friends on Facebook, "We know that the outpouring of support will be overwhelming and we ask for your prayers at this time." 

When funeral arrangements have been decided, East Hampton Patch will post the information. Please join us at Patch in remembering Donald Alversa. Our heartfelt condolences to his mother, brother, and entire family. 


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