See Footage: Drone Helps Find Missing Swimmer In LI Sound Rescue

RYE, NY — An impromptu late night swim turned into a tense search and rescue effort this holiday day weekend, according to authorities.

On Friday, the City of Rye Police Department was dispatched to the Shenorock Shore Club on Stuyvesant Avenue for a missing swimmer in the Long Island Sound. The Rye man was attempting to swim across the harbor to his home on Hix Avenue, according to police.

Around 11 p.m., Marine Unit assets from the Mamaroneck Police Department, as well as the Westchester County Police Department joined officers from the City of Rye Department in searching for the missing swimmer, later identified as 51-year-old Kenneth Niejadlik.

Witnesses at the scene told police that Niejadlik took off his clothes and announced that "he was going to swim home" from the docks at the Shenorock Shore Club Restaurant.

When police arrived, the witnesses told officers that Niejadlik had not been seen for approximately 15 minutes.

Rye Police Department Drone Operator Officer Dan Dabrowski quickly launched the department drone equipped with infrared from the Shenorock Shore Club Docks to assist with the search. Dabrowski was soon able to locate the missing swimmer close to the shore line in the area of the Marshlands Conservatory and lead the Marine Unit to him.

Niejadlik made it to shore where he attempted to evade police only to get stuck in the muck on the shore line, according to Rye PD. Marine Units were able to get Niejadlik on board and take him to the docks of the American Yacht Club where officers and EMS were waiting. After an evaluation by EMS, Niejadlik was taken to Greenwich Hospital for minor injuries.

See Also:

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• Rye Fire Department Rescues Hiker Stuck In The Mud At Marshlands Conservancy

"The Drone program is a fairly new addition to the City of Rye Police Department," the Rye Police Department said in a statement. "In the last five years we have purchased two drones and have 6 officers trained as operators. The City of Rye Police Department has recently implemented the Drone as a first responder initiative. For this program the drone can be launched from the roof of Rye Police Headquarters and respond to emergency situations before emergency assets arrive, giving officers a bird's eye view of the situation pre arrival."

The City of Rye Police Department thanked the officers from Mamaroneck and Westchester County's Marine Units that assisted in the rescue.