Suffolk County police and the National Park Service are investigating the death of a man who jumped to his death from the Fire Island Lighthouse Friday afternoon.
Police said a 911 caller reported the incident at approximately 1:45 p.m., prompting a response from Suffolk’s Marine Bureau and park rangers. The man, who leapt from the lighthouse’s observation deck, was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not yet been confirmed, and detectives are asking anyone with information to call the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392.
The Fire Island Lighthouse, one of Long Island’s most recognizable landmarks, has stood at Robert Moses Field #5 since 1858. The 168-foot tower replaced an earlier 1826 structure and was restored in the 1980s after decades of neglect. Today it serves as both a navigational aid and a museum, attracting thousands of visitors each year who climb its 192 steps for sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and Great South Bay.
Friday’s tragedy briefly closed the tower to the public as investigators secured the scene. Officials said the lighthouse will reopen as the investigation continues.