Huntington – Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci praised the Huntington Harbormaster’s team of Bay Constables on duty Sunday, August 1, for rescuing a Huntington Station family of eight from Huntington Bay waters after a wave caused their 16-foot boat to overturn.
“Great work by the Huntington Harbormaster’s Bay Constables on duty this Sunday. We are very lucky to have the team of professionals patrolling Huntington’s waterways that we do – this boating emergency could have turned out very differently with overcrowding and a strong wave,” said Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci. “Boaters, heed the capacity limits on your vessel, always wear your life jackets and remember, you are responsible for your wake.”
The Town of Huntington Harbormaster’s team, consisting of Senior Bay Constable Ryan Sammis and Bay Constable Roy Mathison on the Marine 1 response boat and Bay Constables Tim Lutz and Don Dizomba on Marine 3, responded to a call from a good Samaritan that came in at approximately 4:00 PM to rescue a family of eight (8) in Huntington Bay waters after a wave hit their 16-foot boat and it overturned with 4 children (ages 1 to 10) and 4 adults on board. A 4-year-old child was initially caught under the vessel for approximately one minute; the father rescued the child. All eight family members were rescued and accounted for by the Harbormaster’s team.
Senior Harbormaster Fred Uvena reported that the family of eight were wearing life jackets, which he said “saved their lives” while they were waiting for rescue.
Uvena, also Interim Director of the Town’s Department of Maritime Services, met the vessels with Halesite Fire Rescue at the Town’s emergency pickup point 5, Huntington Bay Club. Halesite Fire Rescue transported all children and two adults to Huntington Hospital for observation.
After towing the boat to the Town ramp at Mill Dam Marina, the Harbormaster’s office issued a summons to the owner of the boat, 34-year-old Jose Marco Moreira of Huntington Station, for overcrowding; the capacity plate on the 16-foot boat allowed for six (6) passengers, including the captain and all children and infants.
In the photos: Town of Huntington Harbormaster response boat Marine 3 towing the overturned vessel with Marine 1 transporting rescued boaters.
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