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Coast Guard rescues 2 New Yorkers
Coast Guard Rescues 2 New Yorkers in Lower Bay
The Coast Guard rescued two New Yorkers early Monday morning, August 11, 2025.
Both individuals went missing while riding a personal watercraft in New York’s Lower Bay.
Initial Report and Search Efforts
Around 1 a.m., a personal watercraft operator contacted Coast Guard Sector New York.
He reported that his friend hadn’t returned to the marina or answered his phone.
The missing person last checked in near the Verrazano Bridge around 8 p.m. Sunday.
His phone went straight to voicemail.
Immediately, Coast Guard watchstanders launched a boat crew from Station New York.
They also issued an urgent marine information broadcast.
Next, they gathered cell phone data and contacted the Elizabeth Police Department.
Police conducted a wellness check and confirmed the person had left home earlier that day.
Discovery and Expanded Search
At 5:40 a.m., a good Samaritan called via VHF-FM channel 16.
They had found the missing watercraft near Chapel Hill South Channel with no one aboard.
In response, the Coast Guard redirected crews from Station New York and Sandy Hook.
They also dispatched Air Station Atlantic City, NYPD aviation, NYPD Harbor, and FDNY Marine units.
Rescue and Recovery
At 7:30 a.m., FDNY Marine 8 found a woman in the water near Romer Shoal.
She said she had been in the water since 8 p.m. Sunday.
While transferring her to EMS, FDNY found the second person on Great Kills Beach.
Crews located him around 7:50 a.m.
EMS transported both individuals to Staten Island University Hospital.
Safety and Teamwork
The Coast Guard rescues 2 New Yorkers, a story Rodger Krass, Sector New York’s search and rescue coordinator, praised the outcome.
“These two people are incredibly fortunate to be alive,” he said.
He credited life jackets and a float plan for saving their lives.
Krass also praised the teamwork between the Coast Guard, FDNY, NYPD, and local mariners.
He emphasized that quick coordination and strong partnerships made the rescue successful