Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Woman Bumps Into Dead Body In Spa Castle Hot Tub
By
Lauren Evans
Published Dec 30, 2014
Modified Dec 30, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Spa Castle
By
Lauren Evans
Published Dec 30, 2014
Modified Dec 30, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
An elderly man discovered face down in a hot tub at Spa Castle in Queens died on Sunday evening, though his exact cause of death remains unclear.
84-year-old Hock Ma, of Forest Hills, was found submerged in one of the spa's rooftop hot tubs by another patron, who apparently had just stepped into the water when she "felt something" by her feet. "It was the gentleman. He went under and no one noticed him," witness Jessica Pescatore told NBC New York. "They didn't administer CPR [right away], they ran upstairs to get a booklet on how to actually perform CPR," she added.
Spa staff ultimately failed to resuscitate Ma, and he was pronounced dead at Flushing Hospital Medical Center a short time later. The medical examiner is currently investigating the cause of death, though Ma's son told the Daily News that his father had been in good health prior to the incident.
Inspections by the Health Department have in the past found Spa Castle to be in violation of numerous safety precautions, such as failing to maintain an up-to-date safety plan and falling below the required number of pool supervisors. The department has, however, cleared the facility of each violation.
"Safety precautions are clearly posted in our facilities and the staff in the area is CPR certified," said Spa Castle spokesperson Stephanie Chon. "Our thoughts are with the family at this time."
Tagged
queens
spa castle
Lauren Evans
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 4:15 p.m. ET
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
NYC nor’easter dries up after weather service reports minor flooding
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .