Two Bodies Found In Coney Island Creek in Jet Ski Accident During Kaiser Park Outing

A NYPD Patrol boat searched the waterway for lost JetSkiers Willie Tom, 44, and Celine Lin, 24, around Coney Island's Kaiser Park at W. 31st Street in Brooklyn on the Fourth of July.  (Photo: Bryan Pace for the New York Daily News)  

Brooklyn

The bodies of two friends who disappeared while riding a personal watercraft in Coney Island Creek were pulled from the water Friday, cops said, according to the New York Daily News. 

Family of Willie Tom, 44, and Celine Lin, 24, the two people who drowned in Coney Island Creek, mourn as NYPD search for their missing bodies Friday.   (Photos: Anthony Delmundo/New York Daily News)

Grieving friends and family watched as the bodies of Willie Tom, 44, and his friend, Celine (Cici) Fu, 29, were pulled ashore from the water near where the pair went missing on the Fourth of July. 

Tom was riding with Fu — his best friend’s wife — on another pal’s personal watercraft when he made a short turn that tossed the woman into the creek shortly after 8 p.m. Tom dived into the water to save her, but the pair, who were not wearing life vests, were soon overcome by the water. 

 A friend said the two broke the surface three or four times before they disappeared for good. Michael Tom, 38, said he wasn’t surprised to hear that his older brother died during a valiant struggle to rescue Fu, who was frantically flailing because she couldn’t swim.    

“He was a very experienced Jet Skier, a very good swimmer — a great swimmer — and I guess there was no way he was coming out without her,” Michael Tom said. “Even the best lifeguards get pulled under when someone is panicking.”  

The pair were enjoying the holiday with friends at Kaiser Park before Tom borrowed his pal’s watercraft for a ride.


Police officers search by land and by water for the bodies.  

Read More:

Two bodies found in Coney Island Creek as distraught family watches from shore

New York Daily News - July 5, 2013 - By Erik Badia and Joe Kemp

4th of July tragedy: Recovery mission begins for Jet Skiers missing in Coney Island Creek 

WPIX - July 4, 2013 -  by Mike Sheehan    

Bodies Of Missing Jet Skiers Found Off Coney Island Shore

NY1 - July 5, 2013 - By Erin Clarke

Fourth of July beachgoers riding Jet Ski go missing in Coney Island Creek

despite extensive rescue attempts 

New York Daily News - July 4, 2013 - By Thomas Tracy, Mark Morales and Daniel Beekman