Milford Firefighters Help Rescue 2 People Stranded in a Raft off of Charles Island: UPDATE

Milford, CT - Milford firefighters helped rescue two people who were stranded in a raft in waters off of Charles Island, a top fire official said.

At 10:46 a.m. Tuesday, the Milford Fire Department responded to a missing person in the waters off of Charles Island, said Fire Capt. Gregory Carman.

The US Coast Guard had found a person in a raft about 2 miles off of Milford and this person had stated they had left in the early evening on Monday and that a person, who had accompanied him, had swum to Charles Island to get help, Carman said.

"Our Department dispatched our 30’ Fireboat, 19’ Fireboat, and a 9’ Rescue Jet Ski to search the island and the surrounding waters. During this operation, a person approached our Command Officer and stated to be the person we were looking for. He further explained that he had been on the island all night waiting for the next low tide to make it back to shore. No serious injuries were reported by either individual," Carman said in the statement.

He added that this is the type of incident that shows the need for proper equipment when going out on the water and the need to give a Float Plan to someone on shore.

A Float Plan gives the details of the time you are leaving and when you expect to return. It will also include your destination and route intended.

Proper equipment should include a waterproof light, a marine radio or cell phone, personal flotation device (lifejacket), and a sounding device (air horn or whistle). You should always check the weather before leaving, including the high and low tides, Carman said.