Mastic Resident Honored for Heroic Ice Rescue on Poospatuck Creek
Photo by John Walthers- Suffolk Fire PhotosMastic Beach Resident Kayla Masotto Stands with the Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine Chiefs of the Mastic Fire Department , Mastic Ambulance , Suffolk Fire Rescue Representatives and Other Dignitaries as she is Honored for her heroic rescue on the ice at the Poospatuck Creek.
Photo by John Walthers- Suffolk Fire PhotosMastic Fire Chief and Suffolk OEM Deputy Director Steve Januszkiewicz speaks at the Press Confrence honoring a Mastic Beach Resident for an Ice Rescue.
Photo by John Walthers- Suffolk Fire PhotosKayla Masotto is Joined by friends and Family while Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine Honors her at a recent press confrence.
Photo by John Walthers- Suffolk Fire PhotosKayla walks members of the press through the harrowing Rescue on Poospatuck Creek through a video that was captured of the incident.
Photo by John Walthers- Suffolk Fire PhotosKayla Masotto speaks about the rescue.
Photo by John Walthers- Suffolk Fire PhotosMastic Assistant Chief Rudy Sunderman speaks at the press confrence Honoring Kayla Masotto .
Mastic, NY – On Monday, December 30, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine joined members of Suffolk Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services (FRES) and the Mastic Fire Department to honor Kayla Masotto of Mastic Beach, NY, for her heroic actions during a daring ice rescue.
Masotto, 22, sprang into action on December 26 at 12:30 p.m. when a man fell through the thin ice of Poospatuck Creek. Hearing cries for help, she grabbed her paddleboard and quickly paddled to the victim, distributing her weight to prevent the ice from breaking further. She managed to pull the man aboard and, with assistance from bystanders on shore, brought him to safety.
Mastic Fire Department Chief and Suffolk OEM Deputy Director Steven Januszkiewicz noted that the ice was dangerously thin—no more than an inch thick—due to warmer temperatures.
At the ceremony held at the Mastic Fire Department, Masotto received a proclamation from County Executive Romaine and a bravery award from Suffolk FRES. Assistant Chief Rudy M. Sunderman used the event to remind the public of the dangers of thin ice. "You can’t gauge its thickness just by looking at it," Sunderman warned. "If you see someone in distress on ice or in the water, call 9-1-1 and wait for trained rescuers."
Joined by her family and close friends, Masotto expressed her gratitude for the recognition. "I’d do it again in a heartbeat," she said. She also urged others to step up in emergencies instead of relying on others to act.
No information from the author.