Hampton Bays fishermen rescued, Coast Guard says

Two people were rescued from the wooden pilings of the Ponquogue Bridge after the pair fell into the water off Hampton Bays while fishing from a kayak late Thursday night, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Fortunately for the duo, whose identities were not released, a fisherman reported their situation to police, who contacted the Coast Guard — whose Station Shinnecock is “about a hundred yards” from the rescue site.

The Coast Guard said it learned of the distress call at about 11:30 p.m., after being contacted by Southampton Town police.

The Coast Guard then launched a boat from Station Shinnecock, arriving at the bridge at 11:41 p.m.

The crew found the two, both wearing life jackets, standing on the wooden pilings under the center section of the bridge. The pair were brought back to the Coast Guard station, where they were evaluated by medical personnel. The two declined to be taken to a hospital.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”