On May 28, 2025 NYS Environmental Conservation Officer (Officer Dickson arrived quickly to the location with a throw bag and proceeded to the river’s edge.
Once settled by the Massapequa people, the Carlls River (West Creek) is one of the many such streams flowing into Great South Bay.
The ECO said they observed the angler in the east end of the river unable to stand and struggling to stay afloat.
ECO Dickson threw his throw bag to the angler and successfully pulled the subject into shallower water where Suffolk Police Officers pulled the angler to shore using a rescue ring.
The angler was exhausted from treading water for several minutes while wearing fishing waders that were also full of water.
Emergency personnel treated the 69-year-old angler for exhaustion and hypothermia at the scene and transported them to a nearby hospital.
ECOs are required to take swiftwater rescue training at the DEC Police Training Academy and each Officer is issued a throw bag as standard gear to respond to these types of emergencies.
Officer Dickson is also a member of the ECO Flood Incident Rescue Strike Team (FIRST), a specialized unit that responds to swiftwater and flooding events across New York State.
Photo of rescue provided by DEC.
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