NYPD Rescues Couple Who Were Stranded For 24 Hours On Jamaica Bay Island

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The NYPD on Tuesday rescued a couple who had been stranded for 24 hours on a Jamaica Bay island after their boat ran aground.

The boaters – husband and wife Kevin and Jenny Huynh – were sailing on Monday when the current caused the 20-foot boat to get beached, police said. The boaters could not get back to shore, police said.

CBS2's Dave Carlin spoke exclusively to Huynh, who was stuck with his wife on a small island.

It was a whole day and night with no food or water for the Huynhs. He said they were testing out their new 20 foot chaparral boat when it became beached in about a foot of water.

After a full day stuck on that island some other boaters spotted them, called for help and the NYPD Aviation Unit helicopter was dispatched around 2:40 p.m. Tuesday.

Photos and video released by the NYPD showed the boaters being lifted into a police helicopter, and safe on land afterward.

For Kevin Huynh, who is afraid of heights, the rescue was the worst part of all.

"They took my wife to go up first. I told the police, 'No, I'm afraid of heights. I'll stay.' So the police said, 'No, you got to go,' they said."

Huynh said he closed his eyes as the helicopter pulled him up. He said the rescue was even scarier than being stuck on the island.

"It's true. It's true. It's true," he said.

The couple was safe when they were rescued and they refused medical attention, police said.