Good Samaritan Saves 3 Fishermen Near Little Gull Island

A Good samaritan rescued three fishermen who were stranded in the water near Little Gull Island in Southold Thursday. 

According to officials, a call came in at 4:53 p.m. to a communications watchstander from Coast Guard Station New London, Connecticut from a Good Samaritan aboard the vessel Highlander, who fished three fishermen from the water after their boat sank.

The men had been drift fishing in the Race, a popular fishing location in Long Island Sound, according to the vessel's owner, and became disabled when the engine failed to start, Coast Guard officials said. 

Things got serious when the crew drifted into a tidal change rip current and began taking water over the transom several times.

Although the boat sank, all three were wearing life jackets,

“This is why we can’t stress enough how important it is to wear your life jacket,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Troy Castineira, of Station New London. “These fishermen were extremely fortunate that they were rescued when their boat sank in more than 250 feet of water. Who knows how long they would’ve been out there before someone rescued them?”  

Station New London’s boat crew responded to the scene and transported the three fishermen to Pine Island, Connecticut. The 21-foot fishing boat that sunk is not reported as a hazard to navigation, Coast Guard officials said.