Police rescued five people on a raft that was being carried away from shore by strong winds and currents Sunday morning off Reeves Beach in Riverhead.
The Riverhead Police Department marine unit and dive team, along with the Riverhead Fire Department rescue boat, responded to a distress call from a man who reported he was on a raft with four other people and was in need of assistance. The man said the occupants of the raft were fishing when the current and wind began pulling them further away from shore and they were unable to return, according to the police report.
Riverhead Police said they deployed a drone to locate the raft approximately two miles out in the water. The Riverhead Police boat transported all five occupants of the raft unharmed back to shore, police said. The Riverhead Fire Department transported the raft back to shore.
The owner of the raft was issued several summons for imprudent operation (for being over capacity) and insufficient safety gear (missing personal floatation devices and an anchor), police said.
The incident was the first of two water rescues reported by Riverhead Police Sunday. Police and firefighters rescued a man from the water after his kayak overturned off Reeves Beach later in the day. See separate story.
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