Marine patrol officers rescue woman

Two Longboat Key Police marine patrol officers rescued a woman Wednesday afternoon who went under water in Sarasota Bay near the Longbeach Village coastline.

Marine Patrol Officer Shawn Nagell was patrolling the bay near the area of Moore’s Stonecrab Restaurant when they noticed a disabled boat drifting toward an anchored sailboat.

The occupants, a 54-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman, told officers their motor broke down.
Marine Patrol Officer John Majka responded to the area to assist and watched as the boat drifted onto a sandbar. The couple then jumped out of the boat to try and move the boat off the sandbar.

The woman walked into grass flats that were in deeper water and called out for help before her head went under water, explaining to the officers that she can’t swim.

Majka quickly removed his duty belt and electronics and jumped into the bay to rescue the woman.

The couple was transported to the Linley Street boat ramp and the woman refused medical treatment.

“Because of the quick actions of Officers Majka and Nagell, no medical attention was necessary,” wrote Deputy Police Chief Frank Rubin in a July 2 email to Town Manager Dave Bullock.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].