To the Editor:
I’m writing to express my grateful thanks to Aquinnah Police Officer David Murphy, Harbormaster Brian Vanderhoop, Darren Laporte, and all the other first responders whose names I didn’t learn who helped me after a boating mishap at Red Beach Monday morning.
I especially want to single out David Murphy, who unhesitatingly swam out to join me hanging on a mooring ball while we waited for the Wampanoag tribe inflatable to pull us out of the chilly, wind-whipped water. He was the best company I could have ever imagined!
As Chief Randhi Belain pointed out, I made a foolish miscalculation that a short trip from the beach to my mooring at low tide wouldn’t require a personal flotation device — breaking a rule I impose on my children all the time. I should have known better, after many years of boating; cool water and high winds can easily become treacherous no matter how close to shore: Use a PFD!
Eric Stange
Aquinnah
