Dramatic Video Captures Coast Guard Helicopter’s Heroic Rescue of Four Individuals from Disabled Yacht in 12-Foot Waves off Long Island

In a dramatic rescue operation, a Coast Guard helicopter crew saved four individuals stranded on a malfunctioning yacht amidst tumultuous seas and total darkness off the Long Island coast.

According to the US Coast Guard, the ordeal began around 5:45 p.m. on Saturday when a distress report came in. The “Proudfoot,” a 42-foot vessel, was found disabled and at the mercy of 12-foot waves approximately three miles southwest of Moriches Inlet in Suffolk County.

Due to the treacherous weather, local police and first responders were unable to mount a rescue effort for those aboard the troubled motor yacht, authorities reported.

Initially, a Coast Guard boat crew from Shinnecock set out to assist, but they were compelled to retreat back to their station as sea conditions worsened.

Subsequently, an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from the Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod was deployed at 8:30 p.m. The helicopter crew embarked on a mission to airlift the stranded group to safety, officials stated.

The Coast Guard later released gripping footage showing the helicopter team skillfully maneuvering a metal basket to hoist the two men and two women from the yacht, successfully rescuing them under cover of night.

By 9:42 p.m., all four people were hoisted out of the visibly rocking vessel and transported to Gabreski Airport, where emergency medical services were waiting.

No injuries were reported during the nail-biting rescue.

The group’s boat washed ashore at Democrat Point in Fire Island on Sunday morning. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation and local police reported that the vessel remained intact.

“The challenging nature of this rescue underscored the importance of reliable forms of communication and required safety equipment, including life jackets,” Coast Guard Lt. Jonathan Roth, a member at Sector Long Island Sound, said in a statement.

“These are instrumental in getting the mariner to safety and are a must-have on any voyage, any time of year, and in all weather,” Roth added.