Caroline Flynn

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Aug 29, 2023, 5:42 AM

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Updated

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A family of four from Brentwood was rescued from a boat on the Long Island Sound that was taking on water.

Suffolk County Marine Bureau officers responded to the area near the Soundview boat ramp in Northport after receiving a 911 call from a 17-year-old who said the 14-foot boat he was on was beginning to take on water.

Huntington Harbormaster Frederick Uvena said the Town of Huntington had a crew en route to assist, but the county officers got there first.

When officers arrived, they said the vessel was already capsized and the family was in the water - only two of the four people had on life vests.

News 12 learned from Suffolk police that the rescue took 10 minutes, from the time they received the call until they were brought to the ramp. The 17-year-old is credited with helping to make the rescue happen fast as he used his cellphone flashlight to help.

Uvena said the family was ”incredibly lucky."

The harbormaster said it's important for everyone to wear a life vest and advised adding flashlights and whistles.

"Everybody who wears a life jacket should have a whistle on that life jacket because after your vision, it's your ears. If you go in the water you'll need to be able to make a sound so they can find you," said Uvena.

It's also advised to tell a family member or friend where you plan to leave from, when you hope to return and exactly where you plan to be in case you encounter a problem. The harbormaster further cautioned against boating after dark

"Night is a whole different ballgame," said Uvena. "Your vision changes. Last night was a cloud-covered night with no stars. When you have a night like that; it's dark, it's black. And if you have a boat that's low to the water, you cannot see where water and land meet."

The Northport Fire Department assisted rescuers at the boat ramp, providing the family blankets.