Kite Surfer Rescued After Pulled From Tuckerman's Reef to Cliff Walk
A kite surfer was rescued after he lost control. Officials and local experts urge extreme cation.
The Coast Guard rescued a kite surfer Sunday afternoon, after he was pulled from Tuckerman's Reef to Cliff Walk. Officials say the victim is lucky that he did not sustain injuries.
Marc Sacco first spotted the victim as he was walking down Cliff Walk with his family.
"We noticed what appeared to be a kite or sail floating towards to the Cliff Walk just off the end of Webster Street" said Sacco.
He reported that his daughter along with another witness saw and signaled the victim.
"We saw him wave back at us and initiated 911," Sacco said. "My daughter kept a constant eye on his location while I was still on the phone with the Coast Guard."
With the storm swell and 12-foot surf, hurricane sports can be extremely dangerous, said the department. Although the Middletown Fire Department's jet ski was on-scene, it was determined to be too dangerous to take into the water.
"It just takes a second to get overwhelmed out there," said a member of the department.
Middletown surfer Ken Lacey said it's a difficult tack on Sunday with northeast wind. "It pulls you out to sea," he said. A south wind can pull you back to beach.
"They live for this stuff, but the problem is if you don't know what you are doing, it can be deadly," said Lacey.
Middletown Fire Chief Ronald Doire urges people to stay out of the water during the storm.
stacy v
5:56 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
I'm sorry, but people are forgetting when you bet against mother nature you lose. Please don't waste time and money on our rescue personnel because you are doing something stupid. Listen to the warnings and that way the rescue personnel are available.
Christian
12:14 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
Waist time and money that's why we pay taxes . It keeps them focus and employed.
If no one took chances where would we be?
Marc Sacco
8:14 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
actually he was rescued by the Coast Guard...I know, I was there and called them in...
Olga Enger
8:16 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Hi Guys, The fire department did respond and the department has reiterated to please stay out of the water as it us unsafe. They are preparing for a major storm, and these events take away from those tasks that serve to protect the community.
Jay
3:03 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
Agree Completely!!!
Kathleen Kennedy Enger
3:33 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
you betcha Olga!!! Stay safe out there. We are following the story from Minnesota and you ALL are in our thoughts. Nice work Marc Sacco and Kudos to the Coast Guard.
MEVM
9:07 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Way to go Coast Guard!!!! Glad he is safe -- but what was he thinking!! Stay home means STAY HOME!!!!
Gustavo
9:53 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Does anyone know if the access to the Island will be closed as of tomorrow morning?
Olga Enger
10:48 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Hi Gustavo,
There are no plans to close the Newport Bridge unless wind speeds reach a certain speed. Large profile trucks would be banned after sustained winds of 59 mph and all traffic is closed at 69 mph wind speeds.
Jay
3:06 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
Anyone know what areas in Newport are prone to flooding? We are staying on Thames at the Wellington but I do have are car parked on high ground. Also curious if the road by First Beach floods...seems like it would...
5th Warder
6:37 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
Wellington Ave down by the pumping station is almost always the first to flood. It will move up Marchant St. along Spencer Park. I don't think it will get too much worse than that. High tide is around nine this morning and again around nine tonight. Good idea moving the car to high ground, just in case...
Jay
11:55 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
Thanks. Yea water crept into the park this morning. It will be worse tonight but we seem to be up several feet. I will keep an eye on it tonight...I think the angle of the wind has made it a little better than it could be in parts of the bay and harbor. The wind isn't coming off the harbor side but instead from the East.
Daniel Fortworth
9:17 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
It's a good thing we spent all that tax money on buying the MFD a jet ski. Ummmmm, maybe not. Our money would be better spent on funding the coast gurad. They're the real heros...and they dont ask for overtime.
Daniel Fortworth
12:26 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
If you ever need to be rescued with a jet ski, Dont call the MFD, call the local boys who own jet skis. They know how to operate jet skis in dangerous surf.
Friends of Middletown Fire Station
9:05 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
When MFD arrived on scene they had a direct report (from another kite surfer) that the kite surfer had got out of the water on his own and was OK. Fire officials remained on scene and had a rescue and the jet ski stay on scene until it could be confirmed. While attempting to verify the report (which was inaccurate)The Newport fire department sighted the person in the water near cliff walk. The coast guard boat that responded was just off ruggles at the time and was guided to the victim so that the jet ski did not need to launch. MFD has rescued more than 3 people in the waters off Middletown since it was put in service.
larry kelly
9:21 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Dan
Are you kidding or just ignorant. I have personally witness two occasions when the fire department went out to save someone with the jet ski. And they did a fine job. As for the coast guard (not gurad) yes the are the heros of the day for saving an idiot from killing himself and putting others in danger to save him.
B.D.
3:38 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Mr. Fortworth, before you come on a public bulletin board libeling such a dedicated group of individuals perhaps you should get your facts straight. I know for a fact those professional firefighters were chomping at the bit to make that save. And to say they are/were not prepared to make that save is an ABSOLUTE LIE! The reason they have a jet ski and make as many saves as the do is because of absent minded individuals like yourself who THINK "they know how to operate in dangerous surf". Had they just stayed on shore as requested by public safety officials none of these "hero's" would have to had been put into harms way.
Kudo's to the coast guard, and MFD and NFD for their participation.