Fairfield Fire Assists in Southport Harbor Marine Rescue

FAIRFIELD, CT, APRIL 2, 2014: On Wednesday afternoon at 3:54PM, the Fairfield Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding an overturned boat in the Southport Harbor channel. Fairfield Fire Department Engines 1, 2, and 4, Ladder 1 and Cars 3 & 5 responded along with Marine 7, Fairfield Police, and AMR units. Fire personnel were met at the Ye Yacht Yard dock by Travis Herman of Southport Yacht Club, who later reported having been contacted by Good Samaritan Landon Storrs to assist after she called 911, along with a patient he had retrieved from the frigid waters alongside an overturned kayak.

Fairfield Fire and AMR personnel began treating the patient as Marine 7 was launched with other Fire personnel to check the overturned craft in the channel for additional patients. None were found and the single-person kayak was towed to shore by Fairfield Fire, while three firefighters were sent in the ambulance to assist AMR in patient care en route to Bridgeport Hospital. Car 3 with Incident Commander George Gomola was the last Fairfield Fire unit to clear at 4:38pm.

Assistant Chief Gomola cautioned boaters that "while the air temperatures may be warm, water temps remain dangerously cold and recreational watercraft use is not advisable without special gear designed for cold water boating. This tragedy was hopefully averted due to the quick actions of Travis Herman and the observational skills of Landon Storrs, although its outcome remains in the hands of Bridgeport Hospital's Emergency Room staff."