Sunday September, 6 2020 @ 17:34

Nature: Water Rescue Priority 1

Location: 38 36'27 and 75 4'25 ,

Area:  South Side of Indian River Inlet in the Bay (Sand bar area)

On Sunday, September 6^th, the Indian River (80) and Rehoboth Beach (86) fire companies were alerted to assist Bethany Beach (70) with a water rescue incident on the South side of the Indian River Inlet in the bay on the sand bar area.  Additional agency alerts included the Delaware Marine Police, the United States Coast Guard – Indian River Inlet Squadron, SeaTow, as well as the Sussex County Paramedics.

Emergency response units from Indian River included Utility 80-8 with 80 Marine 1 from the Oak Orchard area, Brush #80-0 with 80 Marine 2 and Engine #80-1 from the Long Neck facility as well as the Delaware State Fire Police. These units responded to the Massey's Landing Public Boat Ramp and utilized this as their launch base.  The Bethany Beach EMS and Marine Units utilized the United States Coast Guard - Indian River Inlet Station as their launch base. 

Emergency response crews were assigned to coordinate the following activities to assist with the incident mitigation services:  80 Marine 2 assisted with pick up and transport emergency medical responses from the United States Coast Guard – Indian River Inlet Station where needed, and 80 Marine 1 assigned to continue to incident location in order to perform assistance where needed.  It was later determined that 80 Marine 1 would be utilized to transport patient from the incident location to the United States Coast Guard – Indian River Inlet Station for transportation to nearby medical facilities.

All services were directed and requested by the Bethany Beach’s Incident Command in conjunction with the Delaware Marine Police.

It appears that female mariner suffered a medical injury and needed immediate medical attention before being transported from the incident location (sandbar) to the United States Coast Guard – Indian River Inlet Station for awaiting EMS services. The Delaware Marine Police coordinated a marine escort from the incident location to the USCG Station in order to ensure a no wake condition while the marine units performed the necessary medical transport activities.

The Delaware Marine Police are coordinating any investigation where needed.

The Delaware State Fire Police coordinated the closure of the Massey's Landing Public Boat Ramp for the duration of the incident.