Jet ski mishap ends in double drowning on Independence Day

A man and woman drowned Independence Day following a jet ski accident in the waters north of Kaiser Park.

Willie Tom, 44, manned the water craft with passenger, Celine Fu, 29, behind him. They rode into Coney Island Creek at 8 pm, when Tom made an abrupt turn, sending Fu flying into the waves, according to a New York Daily News report.

Found too late: Following a fruitless Independence Day search for a man and woman who went missing in Coney Island Creek, police found the body of a man in the water on Friday afternoon, followed by a woman’s body nearby.

Photo by Paul Martinka

Tom quickly dived into the water to retrieve his panicking friend. The pair surfaced several times, then disappeared, according to witnesses

Police, fire fighters, and the coast guard searched by land, sea, and air last night with no results. At 12:35 pm Friday, they pulled a man’s body out of the waters north of Sea Gate, not far from where Tom and Fu went missing.

William Tom went missing following a jet ski accident in Coney Island Creek on Independence Day. His body was found the next day in waters nearby where he dissappeared.

Paul Martinka

Less than an hour later, a woman’s body was recovered from the same waters

Neither Tom nor Fu were wearing life vests when they set out on the jet ski, according to the Daily News.

Celine Fu drowned along with Willie Tom following a jet ski accident in Coney Island Creek on July 4. Their bodies were discovered the next day in waters nearby where they went missing.

Paul Martinka

Reach reporter Colin Mixson at cmixson@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4514.