York Firefighters are constantly training to be prepared for any occurance. Friday afternoon, the Water Rescue team, a specially trained group of York Firefighters got a chance to show what it could do when the tones hit for a capsized boat near the Nubble lighthouse. We are proud of our brother firefighters who answered the call and did their job. Here is the story from the Seacoastonline.
By Susan Morse
smorse@seacoastonline.com
August 31, 2012 12:14 PM
YORK, Maine — The York Water Rescue Team on Friday rescued two men sitting atop their capsized Boston Whaler just off Nubble Light, according to David Apgar, deputy chief for the York Village Fire Department.
The men were checked by paramedics but did not require hospital transport, according to Apgar.
“They were cold but the water temperature was in the mid-60s,” he said. “There was no hypothermia.”
The incident happened around noon.
Maine Marine Patrol, which responded to the incident, identified one of the men rescued as the owner of the boat, Chester Wiggins, 70, no address available, of Massachusetts; and his passenger as James Lovino, 55, no address available, according to Sgt. Robert Beal.
Apgar said the men come to York each year, stay locally, are familiar with the area and knew what they were doing.
The men went out in their 17-foot Boston Whaler to fish for striper when the boat’s motor got entangled in a lobster buoy line in the water off Nubble Light, according
to Apgar.
“Before they could get the line cut, the boat tipped over,” he said.
The men climbed onto the capsized boat until they were rescued, he said.
The Coast Guard and numerous private craft also responded to the scene, said Apgar.
Harbor Master Don Day towed the boat to shore.
Rescue personnel received numerous 911 calls on the incident, which could be seen from Sohier Park at Nubble Light. The York Beach Fire Department also went to the Nubble to give a status report as the water rescue team raced to the scene from the town dock.
The team consists of Captain John Hunt and swimmers Dave Lorandeau, and Luke Starkey.