(NYPD) — Police Officers Matthew Carson (right) and Christopher Carlino of the 101st Precinct in Queens did not start the day as partners, but after a 911 call came over the police radio Saturday night, they quickly teamed up to rescue two men whose jet ski ran out of gas and got caught in a strong current.
Police Officer Carson, who had been assigned to a nearby foot post, heard the 911 call at approximately 8:47 p.m. and responded to Beach 9 Street and Seagirt Boulevard, but by then the current had carried the two men and their jet ski several blocks down the beach.
Additional officers, including Police Officer Carlino, responded to the location and spotted the men in the water. One man held onto the jet ski while the other, who was adrift in the current, wore a loose life vest that was unable to properly keep him afloat.
“His hands were going up in the air as he was going under the water,” said Police Officer Carlino.
That’s when Police Officer Carson said to Police Officer Carlino that he was going in after the man. “I came to the conclusion that this one guy wasn’t going to make it to the shore. It was my gut instinct to go into the water and make sure this guy wasn’t going to drown,” said Police Officer Carson. Police Officer Carlino immediately volunteered to go in with him.
Both officers, who are strong swimmers, safeguarded their police equipment and uniforms with fellow officers on the beach and entered the water. Police Officer Carson, guided by a flashlight held by officers standing on land, made his way out to the man floating alone, and pulled him close to the shore line where Police Officer Carlino grabbed him and brought him to the safety of the beach. Police Officer Carson reentered the water and retrieved other man and the jet ski.
The two jet skiers, ages 21 and 28, were exhausted but uninjured.
