Air and Marine Agents Alongside Law Enforcement and Fire Service Partners Rescued a Recreational Boater as His Vessel Sunk

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Air and Marine Operations (AMO) Marine Unit while on maritime patrol on Lake Ontario, rescued a recreational boater as his boat was sinking.

Today, AMO agents operating an All-Weather 38-Foot SAFE Boat received a search and rescue notification from the U.S. Coast Guard that a vessel was in distress and taking on water. As AMO agents arrived on the scene they noticed the hull of the recreational boat listing with the operator still on board. As AMO arrived 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. The male recreational boater was then 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 then agents provided first aid. Lakeshore Fire Department then 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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