Officials: Suffolk cops, Samaritan, rescue boater after crash

Suffolk police Marine Bureau officers and a good Samaritan rescued a boater Wednesday after he crashed into a Fire Island Pines bulkhead and was ejected, authorities said.

Michael Greene, 34, of Islip, was operating a 25-foot Grady-White boat at about 5:58 p.m. Wednesday when he suffered a medical emergency, according to Suffolk police. The boat crashed into the bulkhead, ejecting Greene, police said. 

A Good Samaritan jumped into the water and kept Greene afloat until Marine Bureau officers Joseph Riviello and Anton Fanelli arrived on the rescue boat, Marine Juliette. The officers jumped into the water and rendered first aid to Greene. 

Marine Bureau officer Richard Berni, meanwhile, jumped from rescue boat Marine Kilo to Greene’s vessel, which by then was unoccupied and moving in circles. Berni put the boat into neutral and returned to Marine Kilo before the Grady-White sank, police said.

Greene was taken on Marine Juliette to Timber Point Marina. He was transferred to a Suffolk County Police Aviation Section helicopter and taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. There were no other passengers on the boat and no other injuries, police said.