An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Press Release | Aug. 11, 2025

Coast Guard, partner agencies rescue 2 people missing from personal watercraft in New York Lower Bay

NEW YORK — The Coast Guard, FDNY and NYPD rescued 2 people Monday morning, who were reported missing on a personal watercraft in New York's Lower Bay.    

A personal watercraft operator contacted Coast Guard Sector New York command center watchstanders around 1 a.m., Monday, reporting that a friend he had been riding with didn’t follow up letting him know he made it back to the marina as expected. His phone was going straight to voicemail and the friend had last reported that he was near the Verrazano Bridge around 8 p.m. Sunday.  

Coast Guard watchstanders dispatched a Coast Guard Station New York boat crew and issued an urgent marine information broadcast.  

Coast Guard watchstanders gathered cell phone data and worked with Elizabeth Police Department to conduct a wellness check at the missing person’s home, confirming with family that he had left earlier that day and had not returned. 

Around 5:40 a.m., a good Samaritan notified Coast Guard watchstanders via VHF-FM channel 16 that they had located the missing personal watercraft near Chapel Hill South Channel with no one aboard.  

Coast Guard watchstanders diverted crews from Coast Guard Station New York and Sandy Hook and dispatched Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, NYPD aviation, and NYPD Harbor and FDNY Marine units to search the new location.  

FDNY Marine 8 located a woman in the water around 7:30 a.m., Monday near Romer Shoal, who reported that she had been in the water since 8 p.m., Sunday. While transferring the woman to EMS ashore, FDNY located the personal watercraft operator on Great Kills Beach, Staten Island, around 7:50 a.m. 

Both individuals were transported by EMS to Staten Island University Hospital.  

"These two people are incredibly fortunate to be alive," said Rodger Krass, the Sector New York search and rescue mission coordinator for this case. "Wearing life jackets and having a float plan directly saved their lives. This successful rescue is a testament to the strong partnerships between the Coast Guard, FDNY, NYPD, and our fellow mariners who responded to the call. The quick coordination and dedication of all involved were crucial in locating and rescuing these people after a long night in the water.”

This incident underscores the importance of reliable communications equipment on the water. While cell phones can be useful, they should not be relied upon as a primary means of distress communication due to signal limitations and battery life. VHF radios and emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) are two of the most effective ways to communicate distress when operating in the marine environment.

Additionally, New York and New Jersey state laws prohibit the use of personal watercraft at night. Insufficient lighting makes nighttime operation extremely dangerous and significantly increases the risk of accidents.