Coast Guard Members Rescued Near Atlantic Beach

ATLANTIC BEACH, NY - Five Coast Guard members were rescued after their boat capsized while attempting to rescue people on a 76-foot fishing vessel that ran aground near East Rockaway Inlet early Thursday morning, according to the Long Beach Fire Department.

The Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department was alerted for a water rescue/boat in distress after the boat ran aground off the shore of the Silver Point Beach Club in Atlantic Beach around 2:30 a.m. and the Coast Guard began operations to tow the fishing boat to a safe location.

At around 4:45 a.m., the FDNY was alerted of a flare sighting coming from the same area where the Coast Guard was operating near Beach 56 Street in the Rockaways.

The Coast Guard sent a distress signal over Lawrence-Cedarhurst’s radio frequency at the same time claiming that their boat had overturned and that five Coast Guard members were in the water.

Ambulances and water rescue/dive teams from Inwood, Long Beach, Meadowmere Park, Atlantic Beach Rescue, Freeport and Wantagh all assisted in the rescue.

All members of the Coast Guard were able to swim safely to shore and all were accounted for.