Metro

Man dead after jumping in water to avoid powerboat

A fisherman is dead after he and a pal jumped out of a dinghy to avoid a powerboat that was headed their way on the Long Island Sound, cops said.

Police said Jesus Ortega, 46, and a friend were fishing when they jumped out near the Stepping Stone Lighthouse south of City Island to avoid a 32-foot Albin powerboat around 11:40 p.m. Friday.

His friend, a 56-year-old man was able to climb back into the 2003 Lowe boat but Ortega didn’t make it, cops said.

He was found unconscious and unresponsive in the water, cops said.

The NYPD’s Harbor Unit was able to rescue the 56-year-old man, who is being evaluated at SUNY Maritime College, cops said.

Emergency Responders rushed Ortega to Jacobi Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead, cops said.