Suffolk police rescue 3 men from burning boat in Great South Bay
Suffolk County police said they rescued three people who jumped off a burning boat in the Great South Bay on Saturday evening, June 6, 2015. Marine bureau officers aboard the police vessel Marine Kilo picked up the three people after receiving a call at 6:56 p.m., police said. Credit: SCPD
Suffolk County police rescued three men who jumped off a burning boat and into 60-degree water in the Great South Bay on Saturday evening.
Marine bureau officers aboard the patrol vessel Marine Kilo picked up the three men at 7:15 p.m., about 20 minutes after one of them used a cellphone to call for help while floating in the water, police said.
Police said the men were taking the 25-foot Chris Craft boat on a trip from Oakdale to Fire Island when they noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment.
After a fire extinguisher failed to work, the men donned personal flotation devices and jumped overboard, police said.
Marine bureau officers Robert Femia and Daniel Smith were the first to reach the floating men. Police identified them as Matthew Biagi, 41, of Forest Hills, Queens; his brother, Joseph Biagi, 40, of Weehawken, New Jersey; and Richard Damaro, 42, of Forest Hills.
Officers brought them to marine bureau headquarters at Timber Point in Great River. Islip Exchange Ambulance personnel checked the men for hypothermia but they refused further treatment, police said.
Firefighters from Blue Point and Bayport extinguished the blaze using fireboats. Police said the burned vessel was transported to Timber Point for examination by arson investigators.
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