Bay Constables Save Man After Vessel Overturns: Cops

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — The longtime owner of Southampton's Lobster Inn and a lifetime water advocate was rescued from the Shinnecock Inlet when his boat overturned Wednesday.

According to Southampton Town Police, a call came in at 8:11 a.m. about the vessel; Southampton Town bay constables, United States Coast Guard, Southampton Town Police officers, and Southampton Village Police responded to the area.

Southampton Bay Constables Donald Downs and Michael Tenaglia found George "Skip" Tollefsen, 74, of Hampton Bays in the water wearing a life vest and holding on to the bow rail of his vessel, police said. He was alone on his 15' Boston Whaler in rough seas when his vessel overturned, forcing him in to the water, police said.

Tollefssen was reportedly exhausted from his ordeal and taken to Southampton Hospital for treatment, police said.

Due to rough seas the vessel remained in the water traveling west of Shinnecock Inlet and was not able to be immediately recovered due to the sea conditions, but was later retrieved, according to Kevin McAllister, president and founder of Defend H2O, a water advocacy group where Tollefsen sits on the board.

The United States Coast Guard issued a notice to mariners on VHF Channel 16 advising them of the location of the boat and its direction of travel, police said.

McAllister said he'd spoken with Tollefsen's wife at the hospital, who said he was "fine. He fishes the inlet constantly. He's an old pro."

On Wednesday, Tollefsen apparently had a fish on the line and was taking off out of the inlet when he got caught sideways in the churning waters where the inlet meets the ocean, causing the boat to flip, McAllister said. But, McAllister said, Tollefsen is "all good" and just at the hospital for observation.

One important key factor was that Tollefsen had a life preserver, McAllister said. "Skip is Safety 101," he said.

Patch file photo of the Inlet from a previous date.