Firefighters Save Duck Hunter During Blizzard Conditions

CENTER MORICHES, NY — Firefighters saved a stranded duck hunter during Thursday's blizzard conditions.

According to the Center Moriches Fire Department, at 10 a.m., Center Moriches and Eastport firefighters were requested to assist the East Moriches Fire Department, who responded to a stranded duck hunter in Moriches Bay, off the end of Bay Avenue.

Emergency units arrived and found a duck blind had pulled away from its mooring along shore and drifted a few 100 yards into the Moriches Bay with one person on board, the fire department said.

"Working together in nearly whiteout conditions and 50 mph winds firefighters in cold water immersion suits launched a small zodiac boat out to the duck blind to rescue the standard hunter," a release on the Center Moriches Fire Department's Facebook page said. "The duck hunter was safely brought back to shore where he was transported to a local hospital for evaluation of non-life-threatening injuries."

All firefighters were back in service within an hour and a half, firefighters said.

Patch photos courtesy Center Moriches Fire Department.