Children, 2 and 3, Alone On Adrift Raft Rescued

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — Two children, ages 2 and 3, were rescued by a good Samaritan after they drifted away alone on a raft in Hamptons Bays Monday, officials said.

Suffolk County deputy sheriffs assigned to the marine bureau received a call at 5:40 p.m. from the Coast Guard about the children on the pool raft; they were drifting in the water west of the Shinnecock Canal in Peconic Bay, officials said.

Deputy Sheriffs Thomas Lyons and Joseph Gallo, who were on patrol in Peconic Bay, responded and arrived at the scene at 5:45 p.m. They were joined by Southampton Town Bay Constable Chris Fraser, who was with the children’s grandmother, Claudia Meza of Hampton Bays, officials said.

Meza attempted to swim after the children but was unable to get to them as they drifted away from shore, officials said.

The deputy sheriffs located the children about a quarter mile-offshore with a good Samaritan, Tony Lemos, of Freeport, who was riding a paddleboard and held onto the children's raft, the sheriff's office said. Lemos was unable to get back to shore due to the current and wind, and all three were drifting further offshore, officials said.

The deputy sheriffs got all three onboard and back to Shinnecock Marina, where the children were reunited with their grandparents. The children were wearing life vests and were unharmed, officials said.

"These little children will remember this day for the rest of their lives, and it’s one of those stories that will be retold for generations," said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr., who thanked the deputies and the good Samaritan for their quick response. "I’m glad that Suffolk County deputy sheriffs were on the scene, and between their efforts, the bay constable, and the good Samaritan, this whole incident will be fondly remembered."