Police ID body found off Jones Beach

Police Saturday identified the man whose body was found in the ocean at Tobay Beach, east of Jones Beach, on Friday evening as Nicholas Kalogeras, 50, of Whitestone, Queens.

According to New York State Park Police, witnesses sighted a body floating off the shore of Jones Beach just before 2 p.m. Friday. That stretch of beach, about one-half mile east of Field 6, was closed to swimmers and not staffed by lifeguards, said New York State Park Police Lt. John Michta.

"Very shortly after the initial sighting, the body was no longer visible," Michta said, due to the "extremely rough surf conditions."

Crews from the state park police, as well as the Nassau police marine and helicopter units and the U.S. Coast Guard, launched a search, and more than six hours later, the body was recovered off the shore of Tobay Beach in Massapequa, Michta said.

Authorities said it appeared Kalogeras had been at the beach alone.

Although "there is nothing that outwardly shows any criminality," Michta said, state park police continue to investigate the death.

Relatives said Kalogeras' brother and sister were due to arrive in New York from Greece late Saturday.