Suffolk County Police officers rescued a 15-year-old Shirley boy after he became trapped in mud along the Carmans River inside Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge, authorities said.
Police said the incident began when the teen, identified as Benjamin Moore, called 911 to report he was stuck in muddy water and unable to free himself. Moore told dispatchers he had been walking in the woods when he lost his way after dark and accidentally stepped into an offshoot of the river, sinking deep into the mud.
A coordinated rescue effort quickly followed. Aviation Section officers conducted an aerial search above the refuge while Moore remained on the phone with an emergency complaint operator, who instructed him to activate his cellphone flashlight to help guide rescuers. The light allowed officers in the helicopter to pinpoint his location from above.
Once spotted, aviation officers directed ground units, including Seventh Precinct patrol officers and members of the Emergency Service Section, to the teen’s location. Responders navigated through the wooded terrain and reached Moore, pulling him safely from the mud at approximately 8:25 p.m., police said.
Additional support was provided by the Canine Section, Marine Bureau and several local fire departments, all of whom assisted in the search and rescue operation.
Moore was escorted out of the wooded area and transported by ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital for evaluation.
His condition was not immediately released, but officials said he was conscious and responsive at the scene.
Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge, a 2,550-acre preserve on Long Island’s south shore, features wetlands, forests and trails but can become hazardous after dark. Officials urged visitors to remain on marked paths.