Two men rescued from Reynolds Channel

Atlantic Beach Rescue, Nassau County police and the Inwood, Lawrence-Cedarhurst and Long Beach fire departments, along with Sun and Surf Beach Club lifeguards rescued two jet skiers from Reynolds Channel near Atlantic Beach on Memorial Day.

Around 2:45 p.m. on Monday, an unidentified man in his late teens fell off his personal watercraft near the beach club, officials said. Witnesses called 911 for help when they noticed an unidentified second man also on a jet ski, also in his late teens, struggling to assist his friend.

“This was a great example of a number of South Shore agencies working together,” said A.B. Rescue Chief Neil Metz.

A boat from Atlantic Beach Rescue picked up the men from the channel and brought them back to its headquarters. The Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department and Atlantic Beach Rescue then took them them to St. John’s Hospital in Far Rockaway. The NYPD provided a helicopter to assist in rescuing additional swimmers stranded in the water as a precaution.

As the summer season ramps up, Metz cautioned that safety precautions should be taken. “People need to remember that even though it’s Memorial Day, the water is still very cold out there,” he said. “It’s important that people wear the proper safety equipment, including a wetsuit and personal flotation devices before venturing out into the water.”