Westport Fire Department

The Westport Police Communications Center received reports of residents observing a wind surfer unable to get back to shore and being swept away from Compo Beach due the high winds and surf.  The Westport Fire Department responded to the report of a wind surfer in distress in Long Island Sound off Compo Beach with three engines, a rescue truck, a rescue boat, and the Shift Commander.

Several bystanders confirmed the reports of a person in distress being swept away from the Compo Beach area.  The fire department launched the rescue boat to begin a search.  Additionally, firefighters began to search for the person from the shore with engine companies in the Longshore and Saugatuck Shore areas of town.  Rescue boats from the Norwalk Fire Department, Fairfield Fire Department, and US Coast Guard responded to assist in the search. Prior to the additional rescue boats arriving a civilian on a private vessel located and retrieved the swimmer.  The swimmer was brought to the ER Strait Marina.  Once on shore the swimmer was evaluated by fire department personnel and determined to be uninjured.

The Norwalk and Fairfield Fire Departments also assisted by responding to motor vehicle accidents on the Post Road and Merritt Parkway in Westport that occurred during the water rescue operation.