Crime & Safety
2 Rescued From Water After Boat Capsizes In West Haven: Police
Two men were rescued after being in the water for about four hours after their boat capsized in West Haven, according to police.
WEST HAVEN, CT — Two men were rescued after being in the water for about four hours after their boat capsized Thursday night in West Haven, according to police.
A police officer was patrolling the April Street boat ramp parking lot around 9 p.m. on May 7 when he was flagged down by a concerned citizen, according to Sgt. Scott Allard.
Allard said the person told police that two of his friends went out on the water around 1 p.m.
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“He tried to get in touch with his two friends but was unsuccessful,” Allard wrote in a news release. “The individuals were also not answering their cell phones, which raised concern for their safety.”
Allard said additional officers responded to the area, along with the West Haven Fire Department and the United States Coast Guard was contacted.
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“One of the West Haven Police Department drone pilots deployed the department drone and began searching the area from above,” Allard wrote. “At the same time, members of the West Haven Fire Department entered the water in two rescue boats and began searching the area by water.
“A short time later, a resident in the area contacted police after hearing yelling coming from the water and saw a flare coming from the same area where the voices were heard.”
Allard said the drone operator was able to find two people in the water “using thermal imaging technology approximately 2,600 feet offshore and in a coordinated effort, directed the West Haven Fire Department rescue boat to their location.”
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The two men were rescued and told first responders that their boat had capsized about four hours earlier after being struck by the wake of another passing boat.
Allard said both men were evaluated at the scene by the West Haven Fire Department before being taken to an area hospital for further evaluation.
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