NEW YORK – A man and woman in their 20s had to be rescued after they lost their boat while sailing down the Ten Mile River in Dutchess County, New York, for the weekend. They had to hold onto a tree while waiting for help.
One of them was apparently able to call 9-1-1 around 4:30 pm on Sunday. The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, along with officials from the Wassaic Fire Department and the City of Amenia Emergency Medical Service, were called to the scene, which was confirmed by pinpointing the victim’s location using from a GPS.
Dutchess County 9-1.1 dispatchers were able to stay on the phone with that person in the fast-moving river the entire time. Finally, the water rescue technicians installed a lighting system and were able to deploy rescue boats and save the couple.
According to the investigation, the 27-year-old man from Dix Hills and the 25-year-old woman from Melville were sailing downstream and faced some kind of unspecified problems. The woman began to fight and the man helped her.
He injured his shoulder in the process, authorities said.
The two appear to have lost their tubes at some point or been unable to use them, which is why they clung to the log. Neither of them wore a lifejacket. Both were taken to a hospital and no information about their condition was released.
The Sheriff’s Office issued a reminder Monday for people to avoid rivers and streams after a storm.
“No one should participate in recreational activities on the water during these dangerous conditions. Rising water levels and powerful currents are extremely treacherous,” the office said in a statement. “Other hazards, such as debris creeping downstream, water clogs, and filters create a life-threatening situation for anyone in stormwater.”
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