Man Dies After Tugboat Sinks Off Fire Island, 3 Others Rescued

A tugboat captain died and three crew members needed to be rescued from the Atlantic Ocean after their vessel sank off Fire Island Saturday afternoon, police said.

Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives and the U.S. Coast Guard are investigating the incident, which began at about 2 p.m. when the 62-foot Sea Bear tugboat started to sink about a mile to a mile-and-a-half south of Barrett Beach.

As the boat was sinking, three crew members were able to put on their survival suits, but on-duty captain Donald Maloney was not, police said.

The four men, who were working on a dredging project, left the boat and were in the 37-degree water together until Maloney became separated from the group, police said.

One of the crew members had a cellphone in his survival suit, which is meant to protect the wearer from hypothermia in cold water, and was able to call the Vessel Traffic Service, which then contacted the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard rescued the three crew members who were able to stay together by the boat at about 3:55 p.m.

The crewmates, Lars Vetland, 43, of Staten Island, Jason Reimer, 38, of Leonardo, N.J., and Rainer Bendixen, 22 of Bay Head, N.J., were taken to the Fire Island Coast Guard Station. They were checked by the Coast Guard and did not need further medical attention, police said.

A tugboat named the Willie Lander found Maloney floating in the area at about 5:10 p.m., police said. A Coast Guard vessel picked up Maloney and took him to the Fire Island Coast Guard Station, where he was pronounced dead.

An autopsy will be performed on Maloney to determine the cause of death, police said. Police did not reveal Maloney’s hometown.

The boat, owned by Wittich Brothers Marine, Inc, was working in Moriches on a dredging project and was traveling back to its base in Bayonne, N.J, when it sank, police said.

Photo: Google Maps

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