Good Samaritans Rescue Family From Sinking Boat

When a boat began to sink in the Great South Bay Sunday afternoon, sending a Bellport family of five into the water to cling onto the partially submerged hull, the Deak family of West Islip came to the rescue.

According to police, Juan Contreras, 33, was operating his 18-foot Sting Ray in the bay about a quarter mile south of Gardiner County Park in Bay Shore, when the engine stalled and the boat began taking on water through the engine compartment at about 5:30 p.m.

The Sting Ray was nearly fully submerged underwater within a short time frame, police said. Contreras and his family members, Maria Contreras, 69, Christine Contreras, 11, Angeline Contreras, 7, and Guadalupe Contreras, 47, held onto the hull.

William Deak, 46, of West Islip, spotted the victims as he headed toward the Bay Shore Marina with his two sons, Jason Deak, 21, Justin Deak, 18, and their friend Michael Laduca, 24, also of West Islip, police said. William called 911 and Jason and Michael jumped into the bay to help the victims. Justin, Jason and Michael are volunteers with the West Islip Fire Department, where Jason is a member of the SCUBA team. While Justin operated the boat, William helped pull the Contreras family out of the water and onto their boat.

Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau officers responded to the 911 call and dispatched three boats: Marine Juliet, Marine Kilo, and Marine Alpha. Police officers from the Aviation Section also responded as well as members of the Bay Shore Fire Department and West Islip Fire Department, who responded in fire boats.

The victims were transferred from the good Samaritan’s boat and onto Marine Juliet. The victims were then taken to shore at Hecksher State Park in East Islip, where they refused medical attention, police said.

The sunken Sting Ray was re-floated by police officers on Marine Kilo and taken to Marine Bureau headquarters at Timber Point in Great River.

Photo courtesy of SCPD