Huntington Water Rescue: Family Of 8 Saved

HUNTINGTON, NY — A family of eight were rescued after their boat overturned in Huntington Bay on Sunday, according to the Town of Huntington.

A wave caused the family's 16-foot boat to flip. Four children ranging 1 through 10 years old were onboard.

Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci praised the Huntington Harbormaster’s team of bay constables for rescuing the family.

"Great work by the Huntington Harbormaster’s Bay Constables on duty this Sunday," he said. "We are very lucky to have the team of professionals patrolling Huntington’s waterways that we do — this boating emergency could have turned out very differently with overcrowding and a strong wave. Boaters, heed the capacity limits on your vessel, always wear your life jackets and remember, you are responsible for your wake."

The Town of Huntington Harbormaster’s team, consisting of Senior Bay Constable Ryan Sammis and Bay Constable Roy Mathison on the Marine 1 response boat and Bay Constables Tim Lutz and Don Dizomba on Marine 3, responded to a call from a good Samaritan that came in around 4 p.m.

Four adults and children each were on the vessel. A 4-year-old child was initially caught under the boat for one minute; the father rescued the child. All eight family members were rescued and accounted for by the Harbormaster’s team.

Senior Harbormaster Fred Uvena reported that the family of eight were wearing life jackets, which he said "saved their lives" while they were waiting for rescue.

Uvena, also interim director of the Town of Huntington’s Department of Maritime Services, met the vessels with Halesite Fire Rescue at the Town’s emergency pickup point 5, Huntington Bay Club. Halesite Fire Rescue transported all children and two adults to Huntington Hospital to be checked out.

After towing the boat to the town ramp at Mill Dam Marina, the Harbormaster’s office issued a summons to the owner of the boat, Jose Marco Moreira, 34, of Huntington Station, for overcrowding, the town said. The capacity plate on the 16-foot boat allowed for six passengers, including the captain and all children and infants.