Police Rescue Long Island Duck Hunter Stranded In Great South Bay
GREAT RIVER, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Long Island duck hunter had to be rescued by police after becoming stranded on an island amid sub-freezing temperatures and high winds.
Christopher Rowlinson, 20, of Great River, took his canoe out to Nicoll Island in the Great South Bay for some duck hunting Wednesday evening. When he began to paddle back after sunset, he encountered strong head winds and ice that had formed on the water.
His mother, Donna, got worried when it began to get dark and called her son's cellphone, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reported.
"He said he couldn't get out, he tried three times and he was unable to row," she said.
She then called 911.
Suffolk County County Marine Bureau officers told Rowlinson to turn on his phone's flashlight feature to signal them as they approached.
"I turned on my flashlight and just waved," Rowlinson said.
He was returned safe and sound.
Winds were 40 mph and the temperature was 18 at the time of the rescue.
The incident has one hunting expert urging responsibility.
"Duck hunters tend to be maybe some of the craziest hunters of them all because often times when the hunting is best is when conditions are at their worst," Doug Gorvey of Ducks Unlimited told WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs.
Gorvey said a hunter needs to have a safety plan, be properly equipped and know when to say, "no, not today."
"It's not worth dying over a duck," Gorvey said.
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