At 11:45 AM on Saturday November 7 Suffolk County 911 received a distress call reporting a sinking vessel with two people aboard in Moriches Bay near Moriches Inlet.
The Mastic Beach Fire Department and the Marine Incident Response Team (MIRT) were immediately dispatched to the incident. Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau and Aviation assets were also dispatched to assist.
While emergency personnel were responding, Mastic Beach Fire Department Chiefs received updated information indicating that both occupants were in the water without personal flotation devices (PFDs).
Within minutes, marine units from the Marine Incident Response Team were underway and responding to the area.
Using GPS location data obtained from the caller's 911 call, the crew aboard Center Moriches Fire Department Marine 26 was able to quickly locate the distressed vessel, arriving on scene within eight minutes.
Upon arrival, the crew discovered a father and son standing atop their submerged 19-foot center console boat in approximately five feet of water.
The crew of Marine 26 carefully maneuvered alongside the sunken boat and successfully brought both individuals aboard.
EMTs on Marine 26 immediately began assessing and treating both individuals for cold-water exposure and possible hypothermia while transporting them to EMS personnel at the Center Yacht Club.
Meanwhile, other responding fire department marine units assisted with recovering floating debris from the incident area.
This successful rescue highlights the importance of cooperation, coordination, and teamwork among the six fire departments that comprise the Marine Incident Response Team that serves our local waterways. From the initial 911 call and dispatch, through the incident command established by the Mastic Beach Fire Department and the coordinated response of MIRT marine units, every agency plays a vital role in bringing these emergencies to a successful conclusion.
Although the summer boating season has ended, emergencies on the water can happen at any time of year. The Marine Incident Response Team remains ready to respond year-round to emergencies throughout our local waterways.
We remind all boaters to always wear a properly fitted life jacket, check weather and water conditions before heading out, and let someone know your intended route and expected return time by filing a float plan.
If you experience an emergency on the water call 911 or contact the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16.
Since joining forces in August 2021, the dedicated volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel of the Marine Incident Response Team have continued to demonstrate the value of a coordinated, multi-agency marine emergency response providing a vital lifesaving resource to our local maritime community |
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