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Couple Jumps From Burning Boat, Rescued From Hudson River By Police

Two people forced to jump into the Hudson River after their boat caught fire were rescued Saturday evening by the Westchester County Police Marine Unit.

Two patrol boats from the Westchester County Police Marine Unit responded to an 18-foot powerboat on fire Saturday on the Hudson River near Briarcliff Manor. County police officers rescued a man and woman in their 20s and then extinguished the fire.

Two patrol boats from the Westchester County Police Marine Unit responded to an 18-foot powerboat on fire Saturday on the Hudson River near Briarcliff Manor. County police officers rescued a man and woman in their 20s and then extinguished the fire.

Photo Credit: Westchester County Police Marine Unit

Kieran O'Leary, a spokesman for the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, said the county's Marine Unit was on patrol near Sing Sing prison in Ossining at 5:22 p.m. when officers observed black smoke coming from a vessel to their south. 

Officers aboard the Marine 3 patrol boat located a burning 18-foot powerboat and saw two people jump into the river near Briarcliff Manor as they approached.

Neither person was wearing a personal flotation device, also known as a life preserver. Officers Isai Moreira and Willie Saez were able to pull the two people, a man and woman in their 20s, aboard the police boat.

The Marine 3 officers then used the patrol boat’s firefighting equipment to battle the growing fire, which started in the vessel’s engine. The county police Marine 2 patrol boat also responded and assisted in extinguishing the blaze, O"Leary said.

Firefighters from the Croton Fire Department also responded by boat and assisted at the scene.

The fire-damaged vessel, an 18-foot Baylinder Bowrider, was towed from the scene by Sea Tow.

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