Nissequogue River Rescue

Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau units, with assistance from multiple agencies, helped rescue a Centerport couple after their canoe was stuck in the Nissequogue River in Smithtown Monday around 5 p.m.

Dennis Ferrari, 49, and his wife Katherine Ferrari, 47, both of 41 Mariners Court, Centerport, were in a canoe on the Nissequogue River this evening when they got stuck on the mudflats. When they couldn’t reach land, the two called out to a passerby who called 911 at 5:12 p.m.

The Smithtown Bay Constable responded to the scene, along with Suffolk County Police Marine, Aviation and Emergency Service and Fourth Precinct units.

Several members of the Smithtown Fire Department, the Nesconset Fire Department and the Kings Park Fire Department all responded and tried to reach the couple by raft. When the raft hit the mud and was no longer able to move in the water, several firefighters tried to walk through the mud. A Nesconset firefighter was able to reach the couple in the canoe.

The West Islip Fire Department was called to the scene with a hovercraft. With Assistance from the Suffolk County Police Aviation Section, they were able to retrieve the couple, along with the Nesconset firefighter who reached the canoe.

Dennis and Katherine Ferrari were taken to Saint Catherine of Siena Medical Center and treated for Hypothermia. The Nesconset firefighter was taken to Stony Brook University Medial Center for observation for exposure to hypothermia. Another firefighter was checked by Smithtown Fire Ambulance at the scene and released.