Manasquan Boat Captain Honored For Act Of Heroism

The 21-foot boat was sinking in the Point Pleasant Canal near the Lovelandtown Bridge last July.

Eleven people and a dog went into the water. Capt. John Altamura, of TowBoatUS Manasquan, New Jersey rescued two of the people thrown into the narrow, swift-moving waters of the canal. New Jersey State Police rescued the nine other passengers and the dog.

Altamura was recently named one of the 10 TowBoat captains throughout the country in 2016 for meritorious service by the Boat Owners Association of the United States.

Troopers from the Point Pleasant Marine State Police received a call at 5:40 p.m. that the boat was sinking in the canal near the Lovelandtown Bridge. Troopers and TowBoat U.S. were in the scene within minutes.

Altamura rescued two of the passengers.

The TowBoatUS towing fleet is North America’s largest network of towing ports with more than 300 locations and over 600 towing assistance vessels, responding to over 70,000 requests for assistance each year. The BoatUS Towing App makes it easy to summon on-water and on-road assistance 24/7, and can speed response times (BoatUS.com/app). For more information go to BoatUS.com/towing

Image: TowBoatUS Manasquan