Crews rescue boater this morning after going overboard and not resurfacing

A boater was rescued Monday morning after going overboard and not coming up to the surface.

According to the Portsmouth Fire Department, just before 9:30 a.m., Portsmouth Fire Alarm received multiple 911 calls for a man who fell off of his boat into the water and did not resurface off of Fountain Avenue in Island Park.

Portsmouth Fire Alarm dispatched Car 2, Rescue 1 with Marine 2, Engine 2, Rescue 2 and Car 1 to the incident. While enroute, Car 2 requested the Narragansett Bay Marine Task Force be activated and a special request for a dive team to the scene.

On arrival, Car 2 established Command and spoke to the caller/witness and made a reference point for the search which was approximately 70 feet offshore. 2 Portsmouth Fire Department swimmers were deployed into the water and were able to reach the patient in the area of his boat. The patient was unable to get back into his boat due to his waders filling with water causing him to sink. He was rescued and retrieved after 20 minutes in the water; he was able to surface but unable to get to shore.

The patient was alert and responsive upon retrieval and transported to an area hospital for evaluation.