Officers Rescue Windsurfer From N.J. Lost In Thunderstorm

A 56-year-old New Jersey man who was knocked off his windsurfing board by high winds and waves on Monday evening was rescued, police said.

According to police, Donald Roth of Bergen County was windsurfing in the bay south of Heckscher State Park in Great River, New York, when a line of thunderstorms rolled across the water.

A witness on shore saw Roth get knocked off his board by high winds. The witness then lost sight of him and called 911. New York State Park Police received the call and notified the Suffolk Police Marine Bureau and U.S. Coast Guard.

As the squall line moved through, wind gusts of 60 mph were observed at U.S. Coast Guard Station Fire Island, police said. Responding police officers encountered breaking waves of 4 to 5 feet on the bay.

Marine Bureau Officers Keith Magliola and Daniel Smith aboard Marine Kilo responded to the area and began a systematic search for Roth, police said.

The Coast Guard also dispatched a 29-foot rescue boat that participated in the search. After about 20 minutes, Magliola and Smith located Roth in the water off Nicoll Point, clinging to his board, with only his head out of the water. He was wearing a wetsuit and helmet but no life jacket.

Officers transported Roth to the Heckscher State Park boat basin in Great River, where he was met by park police, who transported him back to his vehicle. Roth was not injured and did not require medical attention, police said.

The Suffolk Police Marine Bureau reminded anyone heading out on the water to wear a personal flotation device, check the weather forecast beforehand, and head for safety well before bad weather arrives.