Airbound Tube In Bay Leads To Search, Rescue Of 2 Boys: Police

NORTH FORK, NY — Two boys were rescued from the Great Peconic Bay Sunday after the tube they were being towed on was seen, airborne, without them, police said

According to Southold Town Police, the incident took place at 4:10 p.m. A Southold Town Police marine officer saw a boater, Paul Dudley, 67, of Southampton, towing a tube that was in the air across Great Peconic Bay without riders, police said.

The officer stopped the vessel and determined that Dudley had been towing two boys on a tube without a spotter, police said.

The officer quickly began a search for the boys and contacted the United States Coast Guard, Southampton Town Police, the Cutchogue Fire Department, and Suffolk County aviation for assistance, police said.

After searching the area for nearly 30 minutes a good Samaritan boater located the boys, placing them on his vessel, police said.

The boys were then put on the police patrol boat where they were determined to be in good health and reunited with Dudley at a marina in the Shinnecock Canal, police said.