Three men who jumped off a burning boat off Long Island Saturday night were rescued after floating in the water for about 20 minutes.
The Suffolk County police Marine Bureau received a 911 call
from a cell phone at 6:55 p.m. Saturday from three men who had to jump into the Great South Bay when they couldn't put out a fire on their motorboat.
Matthew Biagi, 41, of Forest Hills N.Y., his brother Joseph Biagi, 40, of Weehawken N.J. and Richard Damaro, 42, also of Forest Hills, were on the 25-foot Chris Craft heading to Fire Island, police said. But suddenly smoke began to emit from the engine.
The three men frantically grabbed a fire extinguisher and tried to put out the blaze but were unsuccessful.
So they decided to bail, and jumped into the water after putting on their personal flotation devices, police said.
They called 911 from the water and Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau officers Robert Femia and Daniel Smith, responded to the location about 20 minutes after the 911 call was placed.
The men were treated for first aid and hypothermia but refused further treatment, police said.
Attempts to reach the three men Sunday were unsuccessful.
Fire boats from the Blue Point and Bayport fire departments arrived and extinguished the blaze. An arson squad will investigate the vessel and cause of the fire.
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