Paddleboarder, Dog Rescued After Severe Storm: Carmel Police

MAHOPAC, NY — A paddleboarder and her dog were rescued by Carmel police after the first of the recent severe storms — June 23 — whirled through Mahopac bringing heavy rain and high winds.

It also brought rough and choppy water to Lake Mahopac.

Carmel police officers Vincent Serio and Anthony Bambach were assigned to the Marine Patrol for the afternoon shift when the storm rolled through at 5:30 p.m. After it passed, the officers were conducting a check of the lake and heard cries for help. They found a woman and her dog in the water. Officer Bambach grabbed the dog by the handle of its life vest and hoisted him into the boat. They then led her to the stern and assisted her safely on board.

Donna Massaro, local business owner of the Freight House Cafe, told police afterward that she had had been paddleboarding with her dog, Joey, when the microburst hit. A light drizzle quickly turned to large drops of rain and caused heavy waves, knocking her and her dog off the board and into the water, she told police.

As she tried to get her dog back onto the board, another wave hit them and the board pushed upward hitting her in the head. For a brief moment, it “suction cupped” on top of her, and she had to force it upward to not be trapped underneath. The board then shot away and she lost it in the water. At that point, she and Joey were stranded in the lake near the rocky shore of Canopus Island, police said.

Massaro said several boats passed her but did not hear her or come to her aid. Then she saw the Carmel Police Boat Marine 1, and began to shout for help.

The Carmel Police Department would like to remind those who boat on Lake Mahopac and its
visitors to always keep safety first. Life vests are an essential piece of boating safety equipment
and should be utilized for humans as well as pets. Additionally, always check the weather and
plan accordingly to avoid a potentially disastrous situation.