Boat reported in distress off South Shore, Coast Guard says

The U.S. Coast Guard was searching Sunday night for a vessel that may be in distress on the South Shore, officials said.

An unknown boat in the Lindenhurst area requested assistance about 3:36 p.m., but hasn't been heard from since, said Petty Officer 3rd Class Frank Iannazzo-Simmons, a Coast Guard spokesman.

Coast Guard officials from the Fire Island sector dispatched a 25-foot rescue boat and a helicopter to search the area, but nothing had been found by about 6 p.m., Iannazzo-Simmons said. The search continued into the night.

"We are actively engaged in searching," Iannazzo-Simmons said.

By Nicole Fuller

nicole.fuller@newsday.com@NicoleFuller

Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.