Officials say a Central Islip man drowned in the Mattituck Inlet while trying to save children.

Family members say Leonel Ortiz Lemus went into the water around 3 p.m. Wednesday.

The 41- year-old was trying to help the kids out of deep water in the Inlet, when he slipped and fell into deeper water.

Police divers say they recovered the body of Lemus about an hour and a half later.

He was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center where he later died.