FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Two people, including a fisherman, have been rescued, and crews are looking to locate another that was trapped on a reef when water started to rise at a Connecticut beach.
The Fairfield Fire Department responded to a call for help after getting a report that two fishermen were in distress off the reef at Penfield Beach. It happened around 7 a.m. on Saturday.
Investigators said that while the two fishermen were on a reef, the incoming tide quickly surrounded them, leaving them trapped, with the water still rising and no safe way back to shore.
A witness saw what happened and jumped into the water to help. While they were able to find one of the fishermen, both were subsequently swept into deeper water, according to the fire department.
Police and fire officials dispatched multiple marine assets to the area, and the Fairfield Police Boat was able to rescue the witness and one fisherman.
Search efforts to find the second fisherman have been suspended for the night, but are expected to pick up on Sunday morning.
Drone units from Fairfield and nearby Westport assisted in search operations. Helicopters from the US Coast Guard and Nassau County, New York, also responded.
Dive teams from several neighboring cities and towns responded to the scene to assist with the search, too.
The rescued fisherman was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, due in large part to the heroic actions of the witness, according to fire officials.
Despite an extensive search involving local, state and federal resources, the second fisherman has not been located, the fire department said.
The operation has transitioned from a search and rescue mission to a recovery effort, and officials said efforts to locate the man, identified as 34-year-old Kwahiwi Edwards, of Queens, New York, will continue.
“The Fairfield Police Department and Fairfield Fire Department extend their thoughts and support to the family and loved ones of the missing fisherman as search and recovery efforts continue,” the fire department said on Facebook.
Officials are also thanking the witness that jumped in and whose quick actions helped save a life.