One for the cops, zero for Jaws.
Two off-duty Nassau cops who were running a charter boat responded to a distress call from a sinking boat and pulled four fishermen to safety before their boat sank in the waters that were infested with sharks attracted by chum.
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Marine Bureau Officers Michael Spagnuolo and Michael Larmony were aboard the charter fishing vessel “Gina Ann.” Spagnuolo captains the boat when off-duty. At approximately 10 a.m., they heard a call for help from a boat that was taking on water about 35 miles south of Jones Inlet. Spagnulo directed the Gina Ann to the scene, which was close to their position.
There were 6-to-8-foot waves on the water.
When they arrived, they observed a 30-foot center console boat with four shark fishermen aboard. The boat was sinking fast. The officers instructed the men to don their life jackets and decided that they had to act quickly. Sharks had come to the area, attracted to the chum the fishermen were using to bring them closer. The officers also knew that if the boat sank and the men were in the water, the suction created by the submerging boat could drag the men under.
With little time to spare, Spagnuolo and Larmony helped the men to board the Gina Ann. Within two minutes of the rescue, the boat sank.
The men, two from Oceanside and two from Lindenhurst ranged in age from 21 to 48-years-old. They were taken to the Jones Beach Coast Guard Station.
heyy that 21 yr old is my ex boyfriend! and what the article doesn’t mention is that the boat that went down was not equipped with proper safety gear. the boat had no life raft & no epirb. that’s what the article should stress. I told my ex all the time that he’d be seriously “effed” if some thing happened while he was out sharking. he never listened. He’s very lucky that the Gina Ann was there to help them. and he says now hes learned a lesson. but who knows
[...] an article, featured at The Long Island Press, does mention the risk of the fishermen being dragged under along with the sinking boat, the threat [...]
I’m glad they’re safe, too, but it sounded like they were in far greater danger of drowning due to the sinking boat than they were of being attacked by a shark. As far as a dramatic picture never hurting anybody, it certainly doesn’t help the public (and largely unjustified) perception that great white sharks are out there constantly trying to eat people.
Hey man….
A dramatic picture for a dramatic story never hurt anyone! Just happy they are safe.
YEA IM SURE IT WAS GREAT WHITE INVESTED WATERS