Raging Massachusetts man, 70, filmed trying to DROWN jet ski user, 21, during violent fight over access to upscale community's lake

Published: 00:37, 6 June 2026 | Updated: 00:42, 6 June 2026 A crazed Massachusetts man was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly tried to drown a jet skier. Steven Dana, 70, was arrested Wednesday evening at Sandy Beach after allegedly attacking 21-year-old Matt Duffy, who was on crutches from a serious motorcycle accident months earlier.  In a shocking video, Dana is seen confronting Duffy before slapping him twice across the face.  The clip cuts to Dana on top of the 21-year-old, forcing his head underwater as Duffy struggles to break free.  Two of the victim's friends are then seen rushing in to pull the lunatic off Duffy, who police say was held underwater for about 10 seconds before they intervened. Hopkinton Police said the fight stemmed from the 21-year-old's use of Lake Maspenock, a private lake in an upscale community. Duffy said Dana was annoyed by him and his friends riding a jet ski in the lake. Steven Dana, 70, was arrested Wednesday after allegedly trying to drown 21-year-old Matt Duffy at Sandy Beach in Hopkinton Dana is seen on top of the 21-year-old, forcing his head underwater 'He tackled me into the water, then we were fighting, and then he shoved my head under and was not letting me breathe until my friend came up and pulled him off me,' the 21-year-old told CBS News Boston. 'I just knew I couldn't use either of my arms or my leg as they were both broken and it was just praying that he let go or my friends pull him off of me.' Both men involved declined to be taken to the hospital for treatment.  The 'senseless violence' began when Dana, thinking Duffy wasn’t a Hopkinton resident, confronted him over using the lake, Hopkinton Deputy Police Chief Scott van Raalten said. 'The only boat ramp to the lake, which straddles Hopkinton and Milford, exists on Lakeshore Drive, and it is limited to use by Hopkinton residents only from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.' Duffy said he’s grateful for how quickly police stepped in and detained the 70-year-old. Two of the victim's friends are then seen rushing in to pull the lunatic off Duffy The 'senseless violence' began when Dana, thinking Duffy wasn’t a Hopkinton resident, confronted him over using the lake Dana (pictured in court Thursday) was released on $7,500 bail and was ordered to stay away from the beach and avoid any firearms or dangerous weapons 'I'm really glad that they got him right away. He did say that he lived by the lake and he was very annoyed with jet skis for some reason,' the victim added. 'A lot of people think they should be banned even though we don't bother people.' Dana is charged with attempted murder, strangulation, and assault on a disabled person and appeared in court on Thursday. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. Prosecutors said they needed to review the 70-year-old's prior record before an official arraignment. Dana reappeared in court Friday, where a judge released him on $7,500 bail and ordered him to stay away from the beach and avoid any firearms or dangerous weapons, the Boston Herald reported. The Daily Mail reached out to Hopkinton Police for comment.  The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.