Officials rescue four people from sinking boat

Bay constables rescued four people from a sinking boat anchored in Great Peconic Bay after a mayday call Saturday, police said.

Southampton Town police said the rescue was made by Southampton Bay constables after Juan Rodriguez, 62, of Brooklyn, reported his 24-foot cabin cruiser was "rapidly flooding" and in danger of sinking.

The first responding constable, Richard Franks, took the boat in tow and tried to get it to shallow water, police said.

A second responding constable, Mark Ruocco, was able to evacuate Rodriguez and three passengers, whose identities were not released, from the vessel and onto his marine unit.

Police said Sea Tow was called and the boat was eventually transported to New Suffolk. No one was injured in the incident, police said. It was not immediately clear what caused the boat to take on water.

Police said Rodriguez told them the boat had left Mattituck for a day of fishing and said it was anchored when he noticed water rapidly flooding the lower cabin -- and placed his mayday call for help.