By Erin Calabrese and Pedro Oliveira Jr.
The New York Post
LONG ISLAND — An 8-year-old girl was feared dead and as many as four other people were missing after a boat carrying nearly 30 people capsized in Long Island Sound late last night, officials and witnesses said.
The 34-foot Silverton left the Seawanhaka Yacht Club in Oyster Bay and flipped over at about 10:10 p.m., dumping its passengers into the water.
A nearby boater, Sam Galasso, said: “A friend of mine was in my boat and shined a spotlight on them because their boat was getting close to us. Then we saw them take a sharp left and it flipped.
“My friend screamed, ‘You’ve got to help these people.’ And I turned my boat and went toward them.
“Everyone in my boat did everything to get people out of the water,’' he added.
His nephew, Frankie Barbona, 15, recalled: “The weather was fine, and then all of a sudden it changed within minutes.
“It was hailing at one point, it started raining. There were a lot of waves.
“Then we both looked over and saw them hit the water.’'
“It was complete mayhem,’' Galasso added. “People started screaming.’'
Parents frantically swam around searching for their kids, some of whom were having trouble staying above the waves, Galasso said.
None of the passengers was wearing a life jacket, said Barbona.
“We pulled 16 or 17 people out,’' he said.
“As it was sinking, the captain was standing on top, waving his hands.
“We threw out everything [life jackets and life preservers] we had to them.”
Twenty-three people were rescued by midnight, Coast Guard spokeswoman Sondra Rivera said.
Rescuers were still looking for at least three others - one possibly a 7-year-old child - at about 2 a.m., Rivera added.
Nassau Police Inspector Kenneth Lack said the accident was likely caused by the quick shift in weather and the wake caused by several boats leaving the area’s fireworks display.
Two victims were taken via helicopter to nearby hospitals.
“I saw them working on a little boy - they were doing CPR on him in the ambulance,” said witness Michelle Zangari, 18.
“They said they found him underneath the boat.”
Rivera said it is unclear where the boat was headed.
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