Stamford Boat Accident- Darien Police Department Press Release

Darien, CT – On Sunday July 22, 2012 at approximately 11:35pm the Darien Police Marine Division received a request from the Stamford Police Department to respond to a boat accident in Stamford Harbor. Initial reports were that a boat had struck the breakwater at the entrance to Stamford Harbor and that two people were on top of the vessel involved in the accident, two people were trapped inside the vessel, and one person was unaccounted for. Detective Mark Cappelli, Officer Dan Ehret and Officer Derek Mulcahy responded to the accident aboard Darien Marine One.

Upon arrival of the Darien Marine Officers they observed an overturned motor boat with just the bow exposed. Stamford Fire Department's fire boat and an Oyster Bay, NY Constable boat were already on scene.

The Darien Officers were advised that two people were trapped in a void inside the overturned vessel. Officer Ehret of the Darien Marine Division immediately donned diving equipment kept aboard the police boat and assisted the Stamford Firefighter divers in rescuing a male and female victim of the boat accident.

The first victim rescued from the overturned vessel was the male subject, followed by the female some time later. Upon removal of the female from the vessel Officer Mulcahy threw a life jacket to Officer Ehret who placed it on the female. The female was then brought over to Darien Marine One with the assistance of Officer Ehret and a Stamford firefighter and assisted from the water by Ofc.Mulcahy. The female was given two blankets and denied any injuries or difficulty in breathing. The female was then placed aboard the Stamford fire boat where she was examined by Stamford EMS.

After it was determined that all persons were removed from the vessel the Darien Marine Officers continued to assist in the search for the missing person until approximately 5:30am at which time they returned to Darien so that Officer Ehret could obtain dry clothing and refuel.

At approximately 8:00am Officers Macniven and Ehret returned to Stamford Harbor aboard Darien Marine One to assist Stamford Marine Police with the search efforts for the missing boater.