Low tide kept police boat away from stranded family
FIRE ISLAND, NY — A late-night boating trip turned into a hovercraft rescue after a Copiague family’s 25-foot vessel ran aground near the mouth of the Fire Island Inlet Saturday, leaving police unable to reach them by conventional patrol boat and a 2-year-old child with minor injuries.
Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau officers responded to the stranded vessel late Saturday night.
Police said low tide prevented the Marine Bureau patrol boat Marine Juliet from getting close enough to the grounded vessel to reach the family.
Officers instead deployed Marine Tango, the department’s hovercraft.
The hovercraft was able to cross the shallow area and reach the stranded family safely, according to police.
A 2-year-old child suffered minor injuries and was transported to a hospital.
Police said the other family members were not injured.
The department did not disclose how many people were aboard the 25-foot boat or what caused the vessel to run aground.
No additional information about the child’s condition was provided.
Key Points
- A Copiague family became stranded after its 25-foot boat ran aground near the mouth of the Fire Island Inlet late Saturday.
- Low tide prevented a Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau patrol boat from getting close enough, prompting officers to deploy a hovercraft.
- A 2-year-old child was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, while the other family members were not hurt.
