Public Safety officials aided in rescue efforts when a kayaker suddenly became stranded without his vessel nearby Long Beach. On Monday, January 20th, Nissequogue Village Police received calls to dispatch to a boater in distress in the vicinity of Long Beach Town Park at approximately 8AM. The call for service was broadcast to the Smithtown Department of Public Safety units to respond.
Timothy Dewitt of Barrington, New Hampshire was duck hunting, when he fell from his kayak attempting to retrieve the waterfowl. Winds registering at 25 mph combined with a strong tide caused the individual to become separated from his kayak. The water depth prevented him from retrieving his vessel, stranding the hunter on a sandbar.
Bay Constable David Rosenberg, Park Rangers Patrick Buckley and Joseph Augugliaro, and Nissequogue Village Police Officer Matthew Cameron responded to the location where they located the distressed boater in the marsh, south of the Long Beach Parking Lot. The officers boarded the Public Safety Marine Vessel to recover and assist the boater onto the bay constable’s ship. Despite being cold and wet, Mr. Dewitt was in good condition and refused medical attention. He was returned to land without further incident.