NEW YORK-Debris found by a Good Samaritan, strongly indicating a sunken vessel, started a Coast Guard search in the Oyster Bay, N.Y., area at 12:40 p.m., today.
A gas can, cooler, buckets and a clamming rake was found about a half mile from shore near Peacock Point, east of Matinecock Point, by Good Samaritans who contacted Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound at 12:40 p.m.
Another Good Samaritan in the area who reportedly overheard the radio broadcast contacted Coast Guard Station Eaton’s Neck to report they had seen two males out fishing in the area earlier today in a 20-foot boat.
Coast Guard Station Eaton’s Neck, Nassau County Police Department and the Town of Oyster Bay have vessels on scene searching for the reported fishermen. The Coast Guard and Nassau County Police Department have helicopters en route.
“It helps us tremendously when mariners keep their eyes and ears open and report things out of the ordinary while out on the water,” said Lt. Ellen Phillips, Command Duty Officer at Sector Long Island Sound. “Intuitive boaters who alert us to situations like this can drastically help a breaking search and rescue case.”
Anyone with information regarding missing boaters should call the Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound Command Center at: 203-468-4401/4402.
