2 Stranded Boaters Rescued After Running Aground: Cops

BELLPORT, NY — Two stranded boaters were rescued in Bellport Thursday night, police said.

According to Suffolk County Police, the incident happened at 11 p.m. when Jake Laznovsky, 32, of Mastic, and his father Jim Laznovsky, 62, of Lindenhurst, were operating a 25' 1993 Cougar Cat in Bellport Bay and their vessel ran aground inside the New Inlet at 6 p.m.

The two men contacted a commercial salvage operator who attempted to reach the stranded vessel, but failed due to the shallow water, police said. The commercial salvage operator contacted the Suffolk County Police Department's marine bureau at approximately 11 p.m., and the Marine Kilo boat responded and deployed a small shallow draft boat — but the shallow water prevented it from reaching the two men, police said.

Police contacted Hampton Bays Fire Department; the department launched its hovercraft from the Smith Point Marina with firefighters Donald Downs and John Rosante aboard, police said. The hovercraft shuttled the two stranded men to Marine Kilo, and Marine Kilo then transported the men to Forge River Marina in Mastic, police said.

Father and son were not injured, police said.