Dramatic Rescue On LI As 2 Teens Saved After Being Swept Away By Tide

CUTCHOGUE, NY — Two teen swimmers who became separated from their boat Thursday were saved from being swept out on the tide in a daring rescue on the Long Island Sound.

According to the Cutchogue Fire Department, the incident took place at 5:38 p.m. when they were dispatched by Southold Town police to a water rescue on the Long Island Sound off Duck Pond Point.

A 23-foot Grady-White boat was disabled and adrift while two of its passengers, who were swimming, became separated from the boat and were pulled away in the current, the fire department said.

The boat was reportedly about two miles from shore.

First responding chiefs and Southold police responded to the beach at the end of Duck Pond Road, as well as other areas along the Sound to attempt to gain a vantage point and view of the vessel, the fire department said.

The Cutchogue Fire Department responded and deployed their rigid hull inflatable boat from the beach at the end of Duck Pond Road, while additional marine units from the Mattituck Fire Department and the Southold Town Police Department also responded.

The crew aboard the CFD’s boat, which included Capt. Joe Hinton, Lt. Christian Figurniak, Lt. Ken Pearsall and Lt. Bryan Zissel, launched and headed toward the boat's last known position, which was provided by STPD communications, who were in contact with the caller, the CFD said.

The boat was ultimately located more than two miles from shore and was adrift, the fire department said.

After a quick search of the immediate area, it was determined that the missing swimmers were being swept away by the outgoing tide and heading east, the CFD said.

A Southold Town Police marine unit arrived, made contact with the drifting boat, and determined that the missing swimmers, both 16, had no personal flotation devices, and were lost for about 30 minutes, the CFD said.

Additional resources were requested from Suffolk County Police aviation and the United States Coast Guard, who dispatched helicopters to the area, along with an additional boat from the Southold Fire Department, officials said.

The crew from the Cutchogue Fire Department’s boat continued east and continued their search until one of the crew members was able to see an arm waving in the water, officials said.

The boat was immediately directed to that area and the first of the swimmers was located. The teen was visibly exhausted; CFD firefighter Bryan Zissel deployed a life ring and entered the water to ensure her safety, officials said.

Knowing that the first teen was in the care of a rescuer, the remaining boat crew continued their search for the second swimmer, the CFD said.

The other swimmer was found a short time later, about 200 yards away from the first, and at that point was well over 4 miles from shore, officials said. Rescuers pulled up to the swimmer, who was also at the point of exhaustion, and quickly pulled him onboard the rescue vessel, officials said.

Rescuers then returned and picked up Zissel and the first teen, officials said.

Once the teens were pulled to safety, they were taken to shore and evaluated by waiting EMS units, officials said. The Mattituck FD’s boat assisted and escorted the CFD marine unit back to shore.

Both teens were evaluated by the members of the Cutchogue Fire Department's rescue squad and a Stony Brook University Hospital paramedic first responder, officials said.

The teens refused medical attention, had no injuries, and were released to their parents, officials added.

The Southold Town Police Department's marine unit and Sea Tow tended to the disabled vessel.

"The cooperation of multiple agencies along with heroic efforts of the members of the CFD boat crew helped to contribute to a successful outcome of this call," the CFD said.