NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A 31-year-old man was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition Thursday evening after he nearly drowned while saving his brother from drowning in the waters off Rockaway Beach in Queens, according to fire officials and police.
The FDNY responded at 6 p.m. to a call about two swimmers in distress off Beach 84th Street.
According to police, one of the brothers was drowning and the other rushed to his aid.
The first brother made it back to shore, but the second became overwhelmed himself during the rescue and had to be pulled from the water by good Samaritans, police said.
He was medevacked to Staten Island University Hospital North, where he was fighting for his life on Friday, according to the FDNY.
His brother was not seriously injured and declined further medical attention at the scene.
