I’ve always been a strong admirer and ardent supporter of our local first responders. Frankly, we all should be. These are folks who will readily leave their job or home at any hour of the day or night to help those in need.
On July 20, after finishing dinner on our outdoor patio overlooking Shelter Island Sound on the east side of North Haven, we noticed a canoe with a man, woman, and child in it moving rapidly from right to left on the strong incoming full-moon tide.
They did not need to paddle. The tide did all the work for them. However, this rather tippy canoe was also in the channel, about half a mile off the beach, where boats of all sizes produce large wakes that could easily tip over any small craft. It was quickly getting dark and the three were too far from the beach, given the time of day.
With no navigation lights, a strong current, fading daylight, and a young child on board, this situation had all the makings of a possible disaster. Did the occupants wear life preservers or have a cellphone? I couldn’t tell.
Sunset that cloudy evening was at 8:20 p.m. It was 8 and I watched them try to return to the spot to the south where they had launched.
They struggled mightily, paddling against the strong current and southwest breeze that fought against them. The tide and wind were winning.
“Do you think we should call 911?” Terie asked me, as I kept a sharp eye on the canoe. “It’s getting dark, and they are not going anywhere. I’m getting very worried.”
The canoe would push about 30 yards forward, but the occupants stopped paddling, seemingly out of exhaustion.
We decided to call 911 at 8:15. “These guys are in trouble,” I said to Terie. “They just took a huge wave broadside. They barely hung on. They need help.”
A minute or two later, from our deck about three miles away we could hear the alarm being sounded by the Sag Harbor Fire Department. A short while later, I heard the sirens of emergency vehicles responding to our call. Help was on the way.
While I kept an eye on the canoe, Terie received, in rapid succession, phone calls requesting further information from various authorities, including Southampton Town Marine Patrol, Southampton Town Police, Sag Harbor Village Police and Fire Department, the Sag Harbor Harbormaster, and ultimately the Coast Guard out of New London, Conn.
They all wanted further clarification of what we had seen and what we were currently seeing.
It was impressive to see so many agencies so quickly involved.
The first police officer showed up on our driveway a few minutes later, along with an ambulance. A fire truck and about two dozen fire department volunteers also scampered across our back lawn and beach, ready to engage and help.
Standing on the patio, I greeted the police officer and pointed to the right towards Kelly’s Point, a jut of land that pokes eastward about a mile away, just to the south of us on North Haven.
“Before I lost them in my view, they were about 30 yards from the beach,” I told her, as darkness sank in. It was now 8:50. “I think they probably made it to shore, but I can’t be totally sure. It was too dark for me to completely follow them.”
Various police and harbor boats equipped with high powered search lights, showed up on the scene and scoured the shoreline for several hours after the call for assistance was made. Nobody was found, nor did anyone call in for any missing persons.
The search was ultimately called off by 11 p.m. The threesome had apparently made it safely to shore. They were most fortunate.
“I feel bad that that so many came to help out,” Terie said to me later that night. “They are obviously safe. I hope we did the right thing by calling for help.”
“We did the right thing,” I immediately replied. “What if that canoe had capsized or was hit by another boat? How would we both feel knowing we could have done something earlier if we had only called for help?”
I hope the people who were in that canoe will read this column, and that a lesson was ultimately learned: A leisurely evening canoe ride could have easily come to a tragic end.
A special call out goes to all of the first responders who showed up on the scene and responded so quickly. Your tireless work and dedication are truly appreciated. We are beyond grateful. You are the backbone of our community and are heroes. Thank you.
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