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Rye Police Assist In Rescuing Five People From Sinking Boat

GREENWICH, Conn. -- The Greenwich Police marine unit saved five people from a sinking 26-foot Bayliner boat Saturday night, Aug. 16, in Long Island Sound just inside Greenwich waters.

The bow of a sunken 26-foot Bayliner sticks out of the water in Long Island Sound. It sunk Saturday night west of Captain  Island but all five people were rescued by Greenwich Police.

The bow of a sunken 26-foot Bayliner sticks out of the water in Long Island Sound. It sunk Saturday night west of Captain Island but all five people were rescued by Greenwich Police.

Photo Credit: Frank MacEachern

Police units from Greenwich and Rye, N.Y., police departments heard a distress call around 9:30 p.m. from a boat that said it was taking on water off Port Chester, N.Y.

The Greenwich marine unit noticed a boat flashing its cockpit light repeatedly and notified Rye police as well as the Coast Guard and the Mamaroneck, N.Y., police marine unit, that they found the boat west of Captain Island in an area called "Four Foot Rock."

The stern of the Bayliner was observed sitting precariously low in the water and water was observed flowing over its transom into the boat as Greenwich Police took off the five individuals. All five were wearing life jackets.

Greenwich Police started to pump water out of the boat but the boat was taking on too much water and it began to list to starboard and within moments it sank with only a two-foot section of the bow sticking out of the water.

Officers then tied a large white buoy to the Bayliner’s bow pulpit to help identify its location. Greenwich Police notified the Coast Guard and advised them of the sunken vessel. The Coast Guard advised boaters of the hazard to navigation.

The boat owner, whom police didn't identify, is responsibile to salvage the boat.

The owner of the vessel said he had bought the Bayliner two weeks ago. He told police that he and four friends came out on the boat around 2 p.m. when they anchored and began fishing.

Around 9 p.m., when they were getting ready to return to shore the owner said he realized the bilge was full of water and called 911 for help. He did not know what caused the boat to take on water and said it hadn't collided with anything.

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