Rye police announced this weekend they rescued eight people from a boat that had run aground off the Long Island coast.
The Rye Police Marine Unit responded to Sands Point in North Hempstead after receiving an alert of a vessel in distress that had struck rocks and was filling with water. Sands Point sits a few nautical miles southeast of Rye across the Long Island Sound.
Rye police, with the help of other local emergency response crews, first removed the eight passengers safely before stabilizing the boat to keep it from sinking. One passenger sustained a back injury during the incident, however their current condition remains unclear.
“Emergencies on the water can develop quickly, and coordinated responses such as this ensure that personnel and resources are available when they are needed most,” Rye Police said in a social media post.
Various local police departments assisted in the rescue efforts – including crews from New Rochelle, Village of Mamaroneck, North Hempstead, and Nassau County, as well as the U. S. Coast Guard, FDNY and other private marine towing companies.
“This incident highlights the importance of maintaining capable marine units throughout the region and the strong working relationships between neighboring law enforcement, fire, Coast Guard, and private marine response agencies,” Rye Police said.
