Stamford Fireboat Rescues Boater In Distress Off Cove Island

STAMFORD, Conn. -- A boater was rescued from his vessel that was taking on water more than halfway to Long Island, off the waters of Cove Island Park in Stamford on Sunday afternoon, according to the Stamford Fire Department.

Boats at rest at the Cove Island Marina. Stamford Fire Department responded to a call Sunday afternoon for help from a boater trapped on a sinking boat in the waters off Cove Island.
Photo Credit: *Frank MacEachern*

Donna Christopher

11/07/2016 12:00 p.m.

A 1:05 p.m. call came in about a boater trapped on a sinking vessel, according to the Fire Department.

Two engines, a fireboat and a deputy chief responded to the incident. Ground crews searched on land, while the fireboat with a four-member crew went out on the water in search of the boat, said the report on the department's Facebook page.

The boat's location was determined to be about three miles south of Cove Island, with help of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island and the 911 dispatch center, said the Fire Department.

It was tracked using GPS coordinates via the boater's cellphone and located within 10 minutes, more than halfway to the north shore of Long Island, the report said.

There was one person on the 13-foot vessel, unable to bail out water in it fast enough, while adrift in 3- to 4-foot seas, according to the Stamford Fire Department.

Firefighters aboard the fireboat were able to rescue the boater and take him to the West Beach boat dock, where he was evaluated by Stamford Emergency Medical Service, then released, said the report.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard followed the fireboat to port, where it investigated the incident, according to the Fire Department.

The boater's family was located by Stamford Park Police and brought to West Beach to be reunited said the report.

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