At 7:40 A.M. the Islip Fire Department and Exchange Ambulance of the Islips were notified for a report of a boat collision on West Fire Island in the Great South Bay. Automatic mutual aid was also immediately requested from the East Islip Fire Department, Bay Shore Fire Department and West Islip Fire Department for their fire boats to the scene. The various departments along with the Suffolk County Police Department’s Marine Bureau, and aviation sections along with the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound all immediately descended on the area to canvass.
Suffolk Marine Bureau and Islip FD fire boat 3-4-26 located the boat overturned on land after it crashed into the deck of a home on the north west shore of West Fire Island. The area near the island had extremely shallow water and all fire, police and coast guard boats were unable to make it near the scene.
Islip FD, East Islip FD, West Islip FD, and the Suffolk Police had personnel enter the water on foot and had to walk on foot through the shallow water to access the scene. Upon arrival the crew was met with one male deceased, a second injured, and two dogs who were also on the boat that appeared uninjured. EMTs and paramedics from the various departments began to render medical aide to the victim while the Islip Fire Boat 3-4-26 repositioned to a dock on the far side of the island where additional personnel commandeered a golf cart to respond to the scene. The victim was loaded onto the golf cart and brought across the island to the fire boat along with his dogs for transport to the mainland. Once on the mainland he was transferred to Islip FD Ambulance 3-4-3 for transport to South Shore University Hospital and the two dogs were released to a family member. There were no injuries on the island or to any rescuers. The incident is currently under investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department.
First responders at the scene of a boat crash off Fire Island on Aug. 10, 2023. Photo credit Islip Fire Department
