Cambridge Man Dies After Rescue Attempt at Long Point on Martha's Vineyard

Officials said rough surf plus the refuge’s lack of lifeguards made the rescue difficult.

Overview

Emergency crews and bystanders responded to a report of swimmers in trouble at Long Point Wildlife Refuge and pulled 55-year-old Kevin Foster from the water after a call at about 3:47 p.m. on Friday.
Beachgoers using rescue boards, Trustees of Reservations rangers, West Tisbury police and fire personnel, and ambulance crews all took part in the rescue but Foster later died, authorities confirmed.
The Trustees of Reservations warns on its website and with on-site signs that Long Point has no lifeguards and that rough surf, undertows and rip currents can make swimming hazardous.
Family and friends have posted tributes and an online fundraiser for Foster, who was described as a married father of two who loved Martha’s Vineyard.
Long Point’s remote beach access and the need to move equipment by four-wheel-drive and on foot highlight the limits of emergency response at unmanaged shores and may prompt renewed public attention to safety measures.