Captain Of Clam Dredge Rescued After Medical Incident: SCPD

FIRE ISLAND, NY - Officers rescued the captain of a clam dredge after he experienced a medical incident while fishing in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday night, according to Suffolk Police.

Ronald Garay, captain of the 77 foot commercial clam dredge Mary T, was operating south of Point O’ Woods in Fire Island when he began to experience shortness of breath and called for help over Marine VHF radio.

The Marine Bureau heard the call and dispatched a rescue boat, Marine Kilo, crewed by Officers Keith Magliola and Christopher DeFeo, who are both New York State Certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT).

The police boat responded out of Fire Island Inlet into the Atlantic Ocean and intercepted the Mary T two miles south of Fire Island.

The officers then transferred Garay, 44, of East Meadow from the dredge onto the police boat where DeFeo administered first aid to him.

He was transported to U.S. Coast Guard Station Fire Island. West Islip Fire Department ambulance then transported Garay to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore for treatment.