Police Help Rescue Missing Kite Boarder

GREAT SOUTH BAY, NY - Suffolk Police helped rescue a kite boarder who went missing on the Connetquot River on Friday evening.

Pierre Gobin, 61, of Harrison was kite boarding with friends on the Great South Bay this evening when he became separated from the group at about 4:45 p.m.

At the time, a Small Craft Warning was in effect, with winds from the southwest gusting to 25 knots and 2 foot seas.

After Gobin had been out of sight for about 30 minutes, his friend 61-year-old John Beaver, of Oakdale, called 911 and began searching the shoreline by boat.

Police was immediately notified and responded with three patrol vessels. Officers made contact with Beaver and established a search area between Nicoll Point in East Islip and Greene’s Creek in Sayville.

A Suffolk Police helicopter also joined the search, along with the Sayville, Bayport, East Islip Great River and West Sayville Fire Departments, Sayville Community Ambulance, Suffolk County Park Rangers, and units from the Fifth Precinct.

Gobin was eventually forced to shore by the wind and climbed onto a private dock at Fern Place in Oakdale, where a resident called 911.

Patrol Vessel Marine Kilo responded and retrieved Gobin and his equipment at 6:02 p.m., reuniting him with his friends.

Gobin was uninjured and did not require medical attention.

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