The Greenwich Marine Section rescued an overboard boater in the Long Island Sound Sunday afternoon. The Public Safety dispatch center got a 911 call from a distressed boater around 3:30 p.m. The caller said he was driving his boat and his passenger had fallen overboard, and was now missing at sea, according to police.
The captain, a Stamford resident, was operating the vessel from the flybridge, and the passenger, also a Stamford resident, was near the stern. The passenger was not wearing her Personal Flotation Device (PFD) while tidying up the gear. Police said the passenger went overboard when the boat hit a large wake. The boat’s captain did not notice this happen, and continued into the area of Todd’s Point, according to police.
Police said the overboard boater was picked up by a kayaker after being in the water for 20 to 30 minutes.
The GDP Marine Section determined the boat and captain were in compliance with the law. This is the second marine rescue of an overboard passenger in Greenwich waters this season. On July 20, Greenwich Police Officers rescued a capsized kayaker who was wearing her PFD at the time of her capsizing.
Connecticut marine law requires that children 13 years of age or younger must wear a PFD at all times, and a PFD must be accessible to all boaters 13 and over. Police said routinely wearing a PFD is an excellent practice.
Police suggest taking a Coast Guard Approved Safe Boating Course before engaging in any boating exercise.
You can find more information on the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection website http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp.
