Four Lifeguards Honored For Rescuing Kitesurfer

ISLIP, NY - Islip Town officials recently honored four lifeguards for rescuing a kitesufer on Labor Day.

Chris Delisle, Bryan Krut, Devin White and Ronald Croteau, who are all lifeguards at Atlantique, were recognized for their quick action when the kitesurfer, who was in distress and in jeopardy of drowning in the 8 to 12 foot seas, began drifting westward in the Atlantic Ocean and became entangled in his lines.

The lifeguards quickly implemented a plan, which included dispatching lifeguard Delisle into the rough seas, who swam to the kitesurfer, while a second lifeguard stayed ashore communicating the kitesurfer’s ever-changing whereabouts to him through a walkie-talkie.

Croteau and Krut were also deployed into the water to assist Delisle and perform a double yolk save.

White pulled the entire group onto shore.

“We are truly grateful to these four lifeguards, who put their own lives at risk in order to save the life of someone else,” Mark Taormina, Director of Sports and Aquatics for the Town of Islip said. “This is exactly what our lifeguards are trained to do, and we are incredibly proud of them."