Our thanks to Skippers Tony and Barbara Pozun for sharing this harrowing personal experience with a close brush with death.

An incident July 30 aboard a sailboat in Northport NY.
This is excellent training to all. Two things learned:
1 never ever hoist sails at mooring.
2 crew on deck should always wear PFD always, always, always – even at mooring.

6:40 PM at mooring on Capt Ken Graf’s sailboat, Steve Denniston, myself and 3 others - non experienced adult sailors aboard. Mainsail was up and luffing violently, boom moving. Steve went forward to release lines as boat was sailing back on forth on mooring. Steve had much difficulty releasing lines. He was not wearing a pfd. Graf engaged engine to push boat forward to release lines. Boat moving about violently. Steve finally released lines and while returning to cockpit boat took a violent jib down wind, boom came across violently striking Steve about head, throwing him into water.

As boat was sailing away from Steve I saw he was not swimming but appeared to be unconscious. As I was wearing a pfd I dove into water and swam against a strong current 20 yds to Steve. With an inflated pfd, a difficult task. By this time he was face down in water. I immediately turned him over gave him him CPR by hoisting him on my chest and inflated pfd…I WAS ABLE TO HAVE HIM EXPEL A LOT OF SEA WATER. I STARTED TO SWIM TOWARDS GRAF’S BOAT WHICH HAD
RETURNED. As I swam with him I stopped and gave him CPR the best I could. When reaching the ladder, I was physically exhausted and even with help on sailboat, could not get him onto boat.

As luck would have it a CG small boat was leaving Northport harbor and heard the call for help. As the boat got closer I swam with Steve in tow to the CG boat and screamed at the crew to hoist him aboard. With the crews assistance I was able to push Steve’s body onto the cg boat. I told them I was ok and that they should expedite
him to the nearest dock and transport to a hospital. At this time I swam back to the sailboat and managed to get aboard. I was later transported by NYC launch to the NYC dock where I collapsed on dock receiving a contusion to my right ankle.
PS: Steve was airlifted to Stony Brook hosp in critical condition. There he was treated for fractured skull, fractured orbital both sides, and salt water inhalation into his lungs. He was subsequently transferred to St Charles rehab center, Port Jefferson and released later to home where he is currently recovering.

Anthony Pozun, member/instructor, Northport Yacht Club, NYC. Adult sailor, instructor/retd Police Officer, det/sgt Nassau county police dept, 35 yrs – current NYS REG Nurse.