3 Children, 2 Adults Rescued From Sinking Boat In Great South Bay

ISLIP, NY - Three children and two adults were rescued after their boat took on water in the Great South Bay on Sunday night, according to the Islip Fire Department.

After responding to a paddle boarder in distress, firefighters assisted the West Islip Fire Department after a boat took on water near the double span of the Robert Moses bridge at about 8:59 p.m.

While the Islip Fire Department vessel, Marine Unit 26, was headed to the incident location, members spotted a hand-held flare about a quarter mile from the West Islip Marina.

Upon arrival, crews found the two adults and three children struggling to stay on the partially submerged boat. Crews quickly pulled the three children onto the Marine Unit 26.

The boat them began to completely fill with water and roll over. The two adults were then pulled onto the Marine Unit 26 and all five were transported to the West Islip Marina.

"Being that our boat was fully manned and underway when the distress call came in, we were able to quickly respond with the appropriate resources and rescue the occupants of the distressed vehicle as their boat sank, demonstrating that time is of the essence in water rescue scenarios," First Assistant Chief Ron Pfuhl, the officer in charge of Marine Unit 26, said.

All photos courtesy of the Islip Fire Department