Police: Paddleboarder rescued from Peconic Bay

A visitor from Mexico was plucked from the waters of Peconic Bay on Thursday after a strong wind blew her and her paddleboard out to sea, police said.

A friend of Christina Pimienta said she was on the paddleboard at Meschutt Beach about 4 p.m. when the wind took her and she disappeared from his sight, Southampton Town police said.

Pimienta, born in 1991 and visiting Montauk for the past month, was located about an hour later about 3 miles to the east and a mile from shore by Bay Constable Danielle McManus, police said.

Pimienta was in the water and clinging to her paddleboard, police said. She told rescuers that vessels had passed her by, but apparently did not see her because she was floating just above the water line, and waves were running 2 to 3 feet.

“She stated she was afraid it was going to get dark and no one was going to find her,” police said in a news release.

She was taken back to Meschutt Beach and reunited with her family.

Southampton Town police said “this positive outcome” could be credited to Pimienta wearing a personal flotation device, having someone on shore keeping watch on her and the quick response of police, lifeguards and constables.