Three New York volunteer firefighters who thought they saw some stand-up paddle boarders taking a rest were glad they took a closer look.
The Contreras family had spent a couple of hours on Great South Bay off Bay Shore, off Long Island, when their boat started to quickly take on water.
Juan Contreras, 33, of Bellport, was operating the 18-foot Stingray when the engine stalled about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Suffolk police told Newsday.
Suddenly Contreras, his two young daughters, his mother and sister were in the water and clinging to the partially submerged boat, waving their arms and shouting to a nearby vessel.
“We yelled, ‘Help! Help!’ ” Juan’s sister, Guadalupe Contreras, 47, of Bay Shore, said Monday as she recalled the drama, noting that all five family members wore life jackets.
