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Man on sailboat rescued on Rudee Inlet side of Croatan Beach

MAN RESCUED AT SEA.jpg
Posted at 1:21 PM, May 06, 2021
and last updated 2021-05-06 17:45:49-04

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Virginia Beach Emergency Dispatch got a call about an emergency on the water at Croatan Beach near Rudee Inlet just after 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Capt. Sarah Druy with the Virginia Beach EMS Marine Rescue Team responded to the scene and saw the sailboat in trouble.

First responders didn’t know if the man on the sailboat was injured, but he was OK and got checked out by first responders when they reached him.

“He was anchored but his anchor broke loose, so he drifted into the shore and got caught up in the shallow waters,” Druy said.

According to Druy, as summer approaches, more people want to go on their boats, especially when the temperatures hit the 80s and 90s.

“It's humid, people want to go out on their boats to escape the heat, but the problem is that the water temperature has been so cold that hypothermia is still a very real concern,” Druy said.

Druy warns others to make sure they have the right equipment when they hit the water.

She said she is proud of her team and all the first responders who keep the city safe.