Police ID 2 Thrown From Boat During 'Violent Explosion'

GREENPORT, NY — Police have identified the two who were thrown from a boat during a "violent explosion" in Greenport on Tuesday afternoon.

According to Southold Town police, William Gremler, 61, of Mattituck, and Lisa Schoenstein, 43, of Southold were aboard the vessel, which was docked at the Safe Harbor Marina on Manhasset Avenue, when the boat exploded at 3:52 p.m.

Southold police said they received multiple reports about the explosion, which one fire official told Patch was "felt as far away as East Marion."

First responders found Gremler and Schoenstein in the water; Schoenstein was able to swim to the nearby dock and exit the water by ladder, while Gremler was assisted into a dinghy by a good Samaritan and brought to the dock, police said.

A preliminary investigation by the Southold Town Police Department's detective division and bay constables indicated that the explosion occurred shortly after Gremler finished fueling his 29-foot Luhrs and started the boat's engines, officials said.

Gremler and Schoenstein were airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital via the Suffolk County Police Department's aviation unit with undisclosed injuries, police said.

Fire departments from Greenport, East Marion, and Southold responded, police said.

Due to the extensive amount of fuel spilled, Douglas Marine responded for fuel spill mitigation until the arrival of the Miller Environmental Group, which commenced cleanup, police said.

Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound was also notified and dispatched a special response unit; Douglas Marine will respond Wednesday morning to salvage the vessel, police said.

Under guidance from Greenport Fire Chief Wade Manwaring and both assistant chiefs, mutual aid was called and responded, the fire official told Patch.

Both the man and woman were airlifted as a precautionary measure to ensure there were no internal injuries, but it's believed they were not seriously hurt, according to Southold Town police Detective Ken Richert.