Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau deployed a hovercraft on August 23 to rescue a family whose boat had become grounded near Fire Island Inlet, New York. The rescue operation concluded with the family safely transferred to shore and a two‑year‑old child treated for minor injuries.
The incident occurred when the family’s vessel ran aground close to the inlet that separates Fire Island from Long Island. Responding officers arrived on scene and determined that a hovercraft was the most suitable craft to reach the stranded boat, given the shallow waters and sandbars that can impede conventional boats.
Marine Bureau personnel guided the hovercraft to the grounded vessel, where crew members assisted the family in boarding the rescue vehicle. The child, who sustained minor injuries during the grounding, received on‑site medical attention before being taken to a nearby facility for further evaluation. No other injuries were reported.
Hovercraft have become a regular component of the Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau’s rescue arsenal, especially in the Fire Island region where shifting sandbars and tidal currents present frequent challenges to boaters. Their ability to glide over both water and soft ground allows officers to reach victims in areas that traditional boats cannot access.
Fire Island Inlet is a well‑traveled waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Great South Bay, and it is a popular route for recreational vessels during the summer months. The inlet’s dynamic environment, characterized by strong currents and periodic shoaling, makes grounding incidents a recurring safety concern.
The successful use of the hovercraft in this rescue underscores the bureau’s preparedness for such emergencies and highlights the importance of specialized equipment in protecting the public on New York’s coastal waterways.