3 People Rescued Off Disabled Sailboat In Fire Island Inlet

BABYLON, NY — Three people were rescued from the Fire Island Inlet Tuesday night, after their sailboat hit a sandbar and faced dangerously high sea conditions, according to the Suffolk County Police Department's marine bureau.

Andre Thchelischeff, 60, the captain of a 36-foot Bennetaue sailboat, sent out a distress alert on a VHF channel at 9:25 p.m., after the boat struck a sandbar off Democrat Point in Babylon and became disabled, police said.

There had been a small craft advisory in effect at the time due to high seas, police said.

Marine Kilo and Marine Juliet responded along with the officers from the aviation section. The United States Coast Guard also assisted, police said.

Due to the difficult conditions, including 4 to 5-foot waves, it took Officers Joseph Lanzisera, Chris DeFeo, Ed McDowell and Joe Meo from Marine Kilo four attempts to reach the vessel, police said.

Thchelischeff and his passengers, ages 60 and 61, were taken safely onto Marine Kilo. They were then taken to the Coast Guard station and did not require medical attention, police said.