Surfer Who Helped Rescue Residents During Sandy Dies in Puerto Rico

Found floating near surfboard in apparent drowning

A Belle Harbor surfer who reportedly rescued stranded residents during superstorm Sandy has died from an apparent drowning in Puerto Rico.

The body of Dylan Smith, 23, was found floating Sunday morning near his surfboard in waters off Maria's Beach in the western Puerto Rican community of Rincon, The Associated Press reported.

The town's beaches are popular with surfers across the globe, the story said.

Several local news outlets reported early Monday that Smith and another Belle Harbor man, Michael McDonnell, 51, rescued stranded residents in the Rockaways during Sandy. Smith paddled out to them on their surfboards, and he and Moore then towed them to safety, according to a story by People magazine.