Fisherman Rescued in Gleneida

Police pull a stricken fisherman to safety early Monday who nearly drowned in Lake Gleneida in Carmel. Quick action on the part of police from three jurisdictions saved the life of a fisherman from Dutchess County early Monday who fell from a rowboat into Lake Gleneida while fishing.

The Putnam 911 Dispatch Center received a call at 6:45 a.m. from a resident of Seminary Hill Road in Carmel reporting a man drowning.

Carmel Police and members of the Putnam County Sheriff's Department responded along with Kent Police Lt. Alex DiVernieri who was on his way to work when he heard the emergency call.

Lt. DiVernieri observed a man 100 feet from the shoreline floundering in the frigid water. The lieutenant and Deputy Vincent Dalo commandeered a boat that had been left unchained on the shoreline and rowed to the stricken man before bringing him to safety.

Richard Shinkaroff, 45, of Wingdale, was shaking uncontrollably when brought to shore. He was administered to by EMT's from the Carmel Volunteer Ambulance Corps and paramedics from the TransCare Ambulance Corporation and was taken to Putnam Hospi- tal Center for treatment of hypothermia and exposure.

Lt. DiVernieri was soaking wet as was Deputy Dalo who suffered a laceration of a finger requiring medical attention at Putnam Hospital Center.

Deputy Fred Mark credited the team action for saving the man's life: "All the rescuers could find was a single oar but they used that to row out and save the man's life."

Once the victim was close to the shoreline officers including Sgt. Lee Stabe pulled Shinkaroff to safety.

The man was conscious but was freezing. EMS personnel stripped him of his wet clothing and covered the victim with warm blankets before taking him to the hospital.

The air temperature at the time was 31 degrees. Lt. DiVernieri said he was "never so cold."

An investigation disclosed that Shinkaroff had been fishing alone when his boat capsized. Sheriff's Department Captain William McNamara said the victim grabbed onto a seat cushion flotation device and attempted to swim to shore but he could not because "his movements were hampered by the weight of his wet clothing."

The captain said had it not been for the heroics of the rescue party "Mr. Shinkaroff could have easily succumbed to the cold temperature and complete physical exhaustion."

Also assisting at the scene was Carmel Assistant Fire Chief Patrick O'Brien and a representative of the Putnam Bureau of Emergency Services.