by BILL MASON
Two men, stranded on windsurf boards in rough Rockaway waters were rescued Thursday by combined efforts of city police and fire department units, officials said.
The men were about 1,500 feet off Beach 105 about 2:40 p.m. when rough waters and changing tides left them unable to get back to shore, officials said.
Firerfighter Terry O'Donnell, a 16-year veteran assigned to nearby Ladder 137, used his board, tethered to shore, to go out to the men, officials said. A police boat and a police helicopter with scuba divers were dispatched to help.
One of the tired men was put into a basket lowered from the helicopter and brought up, and the other was brought to shore by police boat, officials said.
Brendan Gallagher, a police officer in the helicopter, said of the man they carried: "He was very cold and very thankful for being rescued."
Both men were tired and cold from their time in the water, police said, but apparently not seriously injured. They were looked over by EMS personnel when they reached shore, but declined further medical attention, police said.
 |
