5 People Fishing On Raft Rescued From Long Island Sound: Police

RIVERHEAD, NY — Five people out fishing on a raft were rescued from the Long Island Sound Sunday morning, police said.

According to Riverhead Town police, the incident took place at 9:30 a.m.; a call came in from one of the men on the raft, who said he was out with four others on the Long Island Sound off Reeves Beach and in need of help.

The man told police that they'd been fishing when the current and wind began blowing them further away from the beach, and they could not return, authorities said.

A Riverhead Town police marine unit, as well as members of the dive team and the Riverhead Volunteer Fire Department responded, officials said.

Riverhead police deployed a drone and located the raft and five aboard about two miles out from the beach, officials said.

The marine unit transported all five unharmed back to shore; the Riverhead Fire Department transported the raft back to shore, police said.

The owner of the raft was issued several summonses for imprudent operation, including being over capacity — and having insufficient safety gear, such as missing personal flotation devices and an anchor, police said.