Police: High school rowers rescued from frigid Long Island Sound after boats capsize due to weather

A high school rowing team was rescued from the Long Island Sound Wednesday evening after their boats capsized due to weather, police said.

Just after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the Westport Police Department, Westport Fire Department and Westport EMS responded to Compo Beach on a report that several people were in the water after boats they were operating capsized, according to the Westport Police Department.

Responding units found several teens, some swimming to shore, some arriving by boat, and others still in the water near Cockenoe Island. First responders provided care to the rowers on shore and immediately began coordinating the recovery of people in the water, police said.

While accounting for and locating all the people involved, medical care was provided, according to police. Two rowers were taken to Norwalk Hospital and treated for cold exposure. Both have since been released from the hospital, police said Thursday.

Police learned three rowing shells and one chase boat launched from the Saugatuck Rowing Club on Wednesday. Each rowing shell held eight rowers and one coxswain ranging in age from 14 to 18, while the chase boat was operated by their coach, police said.

When the boats reached Cockenoe Island, the weather began to change, according to police. The rowers attempted to return to the rowing club, but the boats began to take on water, causing two of them to capsize. The rowers reportedly swam to the chase boat and began to hang onto the side of the boat, which caused it to sink as well, police said.

Another chase boat from the rowing club arrived on the scene, according to police, and began to shuttle people to Compo Beach Marina.

The total number of athletes and coaches involved in the incident was 29, police said. Police determined that 19 teens were in the water, while nine athletes and one coach remained in their boats.

The air temperature at the time of the incident was approximately 40 degrees, and the water temperature was 44 degrees, according to police.

Police said one of the capsized rowing shells had not been recovered and remains missing as of Thursday morning. Two additional shells were brought to Compo Beach Marina on Wednesday night. The chase boat that sank was reportedly located submerged near Cockeone Island, police said. The recovery of the chase boat was suspended Thursday due to weather conditions, small craft advisory and some erroneous location information, according to police.

The ongoing investigation is focusing on weather advisories that were posted, available life jackets, experience of the rowers and coaches and suitability of the vessels, police said.

The agencies who assisted Westport Emergency Services with the incident included Fairfield Police Marine Division, Stamford Police Marine Division, Noroton Fire Boat, Norwalk Police Marine Division, Norwalk Fire Marine Division and U.S. Coast Guard, according to police.

Emergency Medical Services provided eight ambulances and 20 personnel from Norwalk Hospital, American Medical Response and Darien EMS, police said.

The Westport Board of Education helped by providing a school bus to transport the athletes and coach from Compo Beach to the Saugatuck Rowing Club, according to police.

“This was truly a team effort,” Westport Police Chief Foti Koskinas said Wednesday. “We are grateful for our surrounding agencies who assisted us with this incident and remind our communities that when a large-scale event like this happens we all show up to help.”