Trooper safely rescues father and kids from capsizing vessel.
Yesterday, Trooper II Russ Ryan was on patrol in the Absecon Inlet when he heard a distress call, Mayday, on the VHF Marine channel 16 that he was monitoring.
The boat operator advised that he was in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 100 yards off of the beach of Atlantic City in front of the Taj Mahal, taking on water and sinking quickly.
Trooper Ryan was able to quickly locate the sinking boat, which was approximately 100 yards from the beach and about to capsize on the starboard (right) side.
Trooper Ryan pulled alongside the boat and was able to immediately rescue a 13-year-old boy. As he was reaching for the second victim, a 15-year-old girl, the capsizing boat moved her just out of reach. The girl had to jump and swim to the trooper's boat where he was able to pull her to safety.
As the boat finally capsized, it threw the operator, a 60-year-old man from Philadelphia, P.A., from the boat and into the water.
He was then able to swim to the State Police vessel where he was pulled to safety.
None of the victims reported any injuries.
The incident remains under investigation.
Photo: New Jersey State Police