Widow of fisherman calls for water emergencies hotline

An East Norwich widow, whose husband and avid fisherman died in 2008, addressed the Nassau County Legislature last night urging them to designate a three-digit phone number set up specifically for water emergencies. 

Under her plan, anyone spotting a swimmer or boater in distress would no longer dial 911 but 767, which on a phone touch pad spells out S.O.S., the traditional maritime distress call. 

"My husband's death could have been prevented if the 911 call was relayed to marine emergency services that night," Stephanie Stellaccio said. "There were three emergency boats sitting only feet from where he drowned."

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