Video: NYPD helicopter crew rescues stranded boaters

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - Two boaters stranded for more than 24 hours on a small, deserted island in Jamaica Bay were rescued by the NYPD Aviation unit Tuesday afternoon. The entire episode was captured on camera by police.

The officers were patrolling the bay when they spotted the man and woman identified by the NY Daily News as Kevin Huynh, 52, and his wife, Jenny Ly, 50, of Brooklyn.

The crew awaited back-up and then proceeded to rescue the pair who had been without food or water after the boat ran aground on the island.

One of the officers, Sgt. Kenneth Boss, 44, rappelled down to the boaters. According to the Daily News, Boss was one of the four officers indicted in the controversial shooting of unarmed Guinean immigrant Amadou Diallo in 1999.

Boss was promoted to sergeant last year.

"The officers maintained visual contact with the two stranded individuals and their white boat while they awaited an additional rescue helicopter to be deployed.

Aviation Sergeant Kenneth Boss and Police Officers Jonathan Yacoub, Lester Sanabria and Manuel Huerta arrived at the location and immediately began rescue efforts. As Officers Yocoub and Sanabria piloted the helicopter, Sergeant Kenneth Boss was able to rappel from the aircraft to the island below and secure the individuals to a hoist operated by Police Officer and Crew Chief, Jonathan Yacoub. The two boaters were safely lifted into the aircraft and were transported back to the NYPD's Aviation Unit base where they were met by EMS and refused medical attention."