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Westchester County Police Aerial Unit Makes Emergency Rescue

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. – The Westchester County Police took to the skies on Thursday night, as the department’s Aviation Unit rescued a Mount Vernon wind surfer in New Rochelle.

The Aviation Unit utilized a Bell 407 helicopter to make the rescue.

The Aviation Unit utilized a Bell 407 helicopter to make the rescue.

Photo Credit: Contributed

New Rochelle police received an emergency call shortly after 7:30 p.m. after an observer on shore saw the 26-year-old wind surfer fall off board and into the Long Island Sound.

According to Public Information Officer Kieran O’Leary, the caller said the Mount Vernon resident was “clinging to the board and had drifted out of sight oft hose on shore.”

The county police’s Aviation Unit – in a helicopter piloted by Officer Peter Pucillo - subsequently conducted a search of the Sound between Glen Island and David’s Island in New Rochelle and Orchard Beach in the Bronx using heat-seeking and night vision technology, operated by Officer Michael Brady. When that produced no results, a sweep of David’s Island found the wind surfer to be on the southwest portion of the island.

The Mount Vernon resident and his equipment were retrieved, and he was flown to Glen Island Park to be checked for hypothermia by emergency officials. He declined further medical attention.

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