On May 20, Air and Marine Operations (AMO) agents on maritime patrol on Lake Ontario rescued a recreational boater as his boat was sinking.
AMO agents received a search and rescue notification from the U.S. Coast Guard that a vessel was in distress and taking on water. As they arrived on the scene they noticed the hull of the recreational boat listing with the operator still on board. As AMO came closer, the recreational boat operator jumped into Lake Ontario as the boat sunk.
The AMO vessel commander immediately maneuvered next to the boater to execute a water rescue. He was pulled onto the AMO vessel by an AMO Marine Interdiction Agent and a U.S. Border Patrol agent. Together, they successfully retrieved him from the harsh-water and provided first aid. Lakeshore Fire Department conducted a further medical evaluation and transported the recreational boat operator back to shore.
The U.S. Coast Guard was also on scene and assumed control of the submerged vessel incident. Additionally, assistance was provided by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Office of Emergency Communications and Fire Bureau, as well as the Hilton and Rochester Fire Departments.
“This is a great example of law enforcement and fire service partners working together to save a life,” said Supervisory Air and Marine Interdiction Agent, Rochester Marine Unit, Joseph Saville. “Lake Ontario can still be treacherous and deadly this time of the year with frigid-temperatures that are hovering around 50 degrees.”
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