The body of an elderly man was discovered floating in the hot tub of a Queens spa Sunday, authorities say.
According to NBC New York, a woman found 84-year-old Hock Ma's body after entering the water on the roof of College Point, Queens' Spa Castle:
Jessica Pescatore was inside the five-story spa, which offers pools, saunas and relaxation rooms, along with other amenities, when she said her friend, who had gone to the outdoor hot tub, ran inside screaming for help, saying there was an unresponsive man in the water.
She was actually walking into the water and felt something by her feet," Pescatore said of her friend. It was the gentleman. He went under and no one noticed him.
Ma was removed from the water by staff members, who attempted to revive him while waiting for emergency responders. He was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
NBC New York notes that Spa Castle was cited by the Department of Health last April for lacking an up-to-date pool safety plan. Although it was also cited for "inadequate life-saving equipment and lifeguard chairs, pool overcrowding and insufficient qualified supervisory staff on duty," in April and September, the violations had reportedly been addressed as of the last inspection.
A separate Department of Health investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ma's death continues, and an autopsy will be conducted to determine his exact cause of death.
[via NBC New York]
