State trooper rescues 3 from sinking boat about 100 yards off Atlantic City
Image courtesy of the New Jersey State Police.
A New Jersey state trooper rescued a man and two children yesterday from a sinking boat just off Atlantic CIty, authorities said.
Trooper II Russ Ryan was on patrol in the Absecon Inlet monitoring VHF marine radio when he heard a distress call from a boater, according to a New Jersey State Police release.
The man advised that his vessel was taking on water and sinking about 100 yards off the shoreline in front of the Trump Taj Mahal.
Ryan quickly located the boat, which was about to capsize, pulled alongside and immediately rescued a 13-year-old boy, the release said.
He then attempted to reach for a 15-year-old girl, but she became out of reach as the boat moved. So he had her jump away from the boat and swim to his vessel, where he then pulled her to safety.
As the boat capsized, the operator, a 60-year-old Philadelphia, Pennsylvania man, was thrown into the water and then swam to the State Police vessel and was pulled aboard.
No one was injured. The incident remains under investigation.
“This was an absolutely phenomenal job by Tpr. Ryan!” the release said. “We know you think so too, but here’s what the 13-year-old victim had to say, “As soon as I saw your boat, I knew I was safe.”
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