First responders at Norrie Point marina late Saturday night (photo: Chris Sekul)
STAATSBURG – Three jet-skiers on the Hudson River were cited early Sunday morning with operating the crafts on the Hudson River after dark, in violation of state navigation law.
During the day, four jet-skiers from Pennsylvania set out on the Hudson from Newburgh Saturday for a trip to Albany. On the return nighttime voyage, one of the four crafts suffered mechanical difficulties and began to sink.
One female continued south, with no required lighting or navigational equipment and returned her jet ski safely to Newburgh, unbeknownst to emergency personnel.
Two of the others pulled into Norrie Point Marina around 10:30 p.m., which raised concern from a docked boater, Chris Sekul. “Hearing jet skis at night on a dark river is a sign that something bad will happen,” was the first thought Sekul had as he heard the craft enter the marina.
According to Sekul, the jet skis pulled in and immediately left the marina. After leaving, the two jet skiers contacted a boat that was returning to Norrie. A person on the boat called 911 at approximately 11 p.m. to report the emergency.
When emergency personnel arrived, the boater launched a flare to mark the location. A Dutchess Sheriff’s boat responded and recovered a male and female just west of Esopus Island. They were transported to the marina and evaluated by Northern Dutchess Paramedics where they refused medical treatment.
At approximately 1 a.m. a sheriff’s boat located the fourth jet skier along with two jet skis in distress and partially sinking in a shallow area northwest of the Esopus Lighthouse. The man was transported to Norrie Point where he also refused medical treatment after being evaluated by emergency personnel.
Three individuals were cited for operating a personal watercraft after sunset in violation of state navigation law.
Assisting in the search were the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, Hyde Park Police Department, Roosevelt Fire Department, New York State Police and the Poughkeepsie Fire Department.
