A Long Island woman is being lauded as a Good Samaritan after she risked her life to rescue a jet ski rider who was stuck in a frozen Mastic Beach canal on Thursday, December 26.
The event took place in Poospatuck Creek and was caught on bystander video that was then posted on Instagram (click here to view video, credit: longislandwiseguy).
A jet skier found himself stranded in the frozen waters of the canal and was quickly sinking when local resident Kayla Masotto, utilizing a paddleboard, traversed the ice in an effort to rescue the man. Soon, a second individual joined in the rescue by throwing a rope from the shoreline to the man, who was ultimately pulled to safety.
“Rescue today on a frozen canal in Mastic Beach,” the post accompanying the video read. “Kayla Masotto saw a man riding a waverunner on the frozen canal behind her home in Mastic Beach. Without hesitation she grabbed her paddle board and ran across the ice. Luckily for the man she was able to pull the man to safety if she was 2 mins more the man may not have survived. Thank God for you Kayla you are a hero.”
The unidentified man, who was suffering from hypothermia and whose arms and legs were numb, was rushed to a local area hospital; he is expected to make a full recovery.
Masotto, in a statement in Istagram, said she appreciates the well wishes and support she’s received for her heroic deed.
“I’m glad we were able to get him out as quick as possible,” she said. “Very thankful for good people in the right place and time.”
