Body of police veteran Patrick Luca, missing in kayak accident found

The search has ended for beloved New York Police Department veteran who disappeared while kayaking with his five-year-old son yesterday afteoon.

The body of Patrick Luca, a 41-year-old father-of-two, was recovered this moing by authorities after being discovered in the Nissequogue River, off the coast of Long Island.

Incredibly, his young son was rescued uninjured yesterday by boaters who discovered him floating in the water with a life vest on a mile offshore. 

Teddy Sandomenico and wife Kathy, of Kings Park, spotted the terrified boy, who had been bobbing in the water for approximately half an hour.

But he could not yet articulate what had happened to his father.

'I was with my dad,' Mr Sandomenico recalled the boy saying. 'He went under.'

'He was very frightened - he was shivering,' Mr Sandomenico said.

Authorities said Mr Luca had taken an inflatable kayak out for a ride with his son at approximately 1:30pm on Friday.

The search for the two included rescuers from the NYPD scuba team, Suffolk County divers and the Coast Guard.

Found: Authorities said Mr Luca had taken an inflatable kayak out for a ride with his son at approximately 1:30pm on Friday near Smithtown Bay (pictured here)

A boater reportedly discovered Mr Luca's body later this moing and alerted local authorities.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly called the discovery 'heart-wrenching' in a statement issued this afteoon.

'On behalf of the New York City Police Department, I extend deepest condolences to the family and friends of Officer Luca, and our appreciation to the Suffolk County police for their support,' Kelly said.

Family and friends gathered at Mr Luca's Smithtown home to grieve the loss of a man described as generous and loving.

Neighbour Joel Reinleib, 71, told the New York Post: 'We would sit on his porch and smoke cigars - he was a great guy.

'It’s hard. It’s a hard day. He was a fine police officer, a very caring, fine man, a great father, always caressing and kissing his kids. Just a great all around American,' Mr Reinleib said.

Officer Luca, who began with the NYPD in October 1990, started off as a housing officer. He began work in recruitment in 2000.

In addition to his young son, Mr Luca is survived by his wife and daughter.