On Thursday July 6th at 1738 hours Southold Town Police Communications dispatched the Cutchogue Fire department to a reported Water Rescue in the Long Island Sound off of Duck Pond Point in Cutchogue.

Initial reports were that a 23 foot Grady white boat was disabled and adrift while 2 of its passengers who were swimming became separated from the boat were drawn away in the current.

The boat was reported to be approximately 2 miles from shore.

First responding Chiefs and Southold Police Units responded to the beach at the end of Duck Pond Rd. as well as other areas along the Sound to attempt to gain a vantage point and view of the vessel.

The Cutchogue Fire Department responded and deployed their rigid hull inflatable boat 8-5-10a from the beach at the end of Duck Pond Rd. while additional marine units that included the Mattituck Fire Department and Southold Town Police Department responded.

The crew aboard CFD’s boat that included Capt. Joe Hinton , Lt. Christian Figurniak , Lt. Ken Pearsall and Lt. Bryan Zissel launched and headed towards the boats last known position that was provided by STPD communications.

With assistance to STPD communications who was in contact with the caller, the boat was located in excess of approximately 2 miles from shore and was adrift.

After a quick search of the immediate area it was determined that the missing swimmers were being swept away in the outgoing tide in an easterly direction.

Southold Town Police Department Unit Marine 1 arrived on scene and made contact with the drifting boat and confirmed that the missing swimmers who were both 16 years of age had no personal flotation devices and had been lost for approximately 30 minutes.

Additional resources were requested from the Suffolk County Police Aviation Unit and USCG who dispatched helicopters to the area along with and additional boat from Southold Fire Department.

The Crew from Cutchogue Fire Department’s Boat continued east and continued their search until one of the crew members was able to see an arm waving in the water.

The boat was immediately directed to that area and the first of the 2 swimmers was located. At this point the swimmer was visibly exhausted, a CFD firefighter Bryan Zissel immediately deployed a life ring and entered the water to ensure her safety.

The location of the second swimmer was immediately not known. Knowing that the first victim was in the care of a rescuer, the remaining boat crew continued their search for the second victim.

The other swimmer was found a short time later approximately 200 yards away from the first and at this point was well over 4 miles from shore.

Rescuers pulled up to the swimmer, who was at this was also at the point of exhaustion and quickly pulled him on board the rescue boat.

Rescuers then returned and picked up Firefighter Zissel and the first victim.

Once the 2 victims were pulled to safety, they were transported to shore where they were evaluated by waiting EMS units.

Mattituck FD’s boat assisted and escorted the CFD marine unit back to shore.

Both teenagers were evaluated by the members of The Cutchogue Fire Department Rescue Squad and Stony Brook University Hospital Paramedic First Responder.

Both Teenage patients were evaluated, Refused Medical Attention and released to their Parents with no injuries.

The disabled vessel was assisted by Southold Town Police Marine unit and Seat Tow.

The cooperation of multiple agencies along with heroic efforts of the members of the CFD boat crew helped to contribute to a successful outcome of this call.