Man thanks responders who saved his life when boat capsized on Croton Falls Reservoir

Frank Becerra Jr., Rockland/Westchester Journal News
·2 min read

Out of the corner of her eye, Samantha Gumina noticed something unusual in the water as she drove across the causeway on Croton Falls Road, on the Westchester-Putnam border, in November.

She told a friend, “I think I see an overturned boat in the reservoir.” Her call to 911 started a chain of events that led to three elderly fishermen from Queens being saved from the frigid Croton Falls Reservoir.

First responders from Putnam and Westchester rescue three fishermen from the Croton Falls Reservoir after the boat they were fishing from overturned Nov. 2, 2022. The were transported to Danbury Hospital after they were rescued.
First responders from Putnam and Westchester rescue three fishermen from the Croton Falls Reservoir after the boat they were fishing from overturned Nov. 2, 2022. The were transported to Danbury Hospital after they were rescued.

Gumina said she yelled to the fishermen who were clinging to the overturned boat to let them know she called 911, but they were about 100 yards away and couldn’t hear her. It felt like forever for anyone to show up, Gumina added, but when they did, they showed up in force.

Croton Falls, Mahopac, and Mahopac Falls firefighters, along with Carmel Police, New York State Police, Putnam County Sheriff, and DEP Police, all rushed to the scene. First arriving Carmel police officers were able to secure a rowboat on the shore, and Gumina was able to get oars from a nearby home.

Jerzy Mikrut was one of three fishermen rescued when their boat overturned in the Croton Falls Reservoir in November 2022. Samantha Gumina spotted the overturned boat while driving nearby and called 911. Mikrut stopped by the Croton Falls Firehouse on May 8, 2023, to personally thank Gumina and the first responders from Croton Falls Fire, Mahopac Fire and Mahopac Falls Fire along with Camel Police, New York State Police, Putnam County Sheriff, DEP Police and North Salem Ambulance Corps.

The combination of police officers were able to reach the victims and hold them above water until marine units from Mahopac and Mahopac Falls Fire arrived. The three were lifted into fire boats and quickly taken to shore where ambulances from North Salem Ambulance Corps transported the trio to Danbury Hospital. All three were suffering from hypothermia, with Jerzy Mikrut suffering a heart attack in the ambulance.

On Monday, Mikrut traveled from his home in Queens to the Croton Falls firehouse to personally thank Gumina and the two dozen first responders that were responsible for saving his life back on November 2, 2022.

"We wouldn't have had a beautiful Thanksgiving and a beautiful Christmas and so on if it wouldn't be for you guys so I just want to show appreciation and tell everyone peace and respect the first responders, our police department, firemen and the doctors."

Jerzy Mikrut was one of three fishermen rescued when their boat overturned in the Croton Falls Reservoir in November 2022. Mikrut stopped by the Croton Falls Firehouse on May 8, 2023, to personally thank first responders from Croton Falls Fire, Mahopac Fire and Mahopac Falls Fire along with Camel Police, New York State Police, Putnam County Sheriff, DEP Police and North Salem Ambulance Corps.

Mahopac Fire Chief Andrew Roberto also spoke about the incident and the life-saving work the first responders did on that afternoon.

"These men would not be alive today if it was not for the courageous acts of all the responders involved, so this was an excellent teamwork response from all agencies so that needs to be acknowledged as well," Roberto said.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Fisherman thanks responders for saving his life in Putnam County