Two fishermen saved, one still unaccounted for after high tide leaves them stranded on reef at Connecticut beach.

Rescue Operation Underway for Fishermen Stranded on Coral Reef

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — A rescue operation is taking place for two fishermen, one of whom was rescued, while another remains missing after getting trapped on a coral reef amid rising waters on the Connecticut coast.

On Saturday morning, around 7 AM, the Fairfield Fire Department responded to distress calls from two fishermen off the reef near Penfield Beach. The rising tide quickly encircled them, leaving them stranded with no safe way back to shore as water levels continued to increase.

Witnesses who saw the situation unfold jumped into the water to help. The fire department reported that they managed to locate one of the fishermen, but both were eventually swept away by the strong currents.

Emergency responders deployed multiple marine units, and a Fairfield police boat was able to save one fisherman and a witness.

Search efforts for the second fisherman were suspended that night and are set to continue the following morning. Drone teams from Fairfield and Westport joined in, along with helicopters from the U.S. Coast Guard and Nassau County, New York. Various dive teams from neighboring cities also participated in the search efforts.

The fisherman who was rescued was taken to a local hospital with injuries that, thankfully, are not life-threatening. This was largely attributed to the quick actions of the witnesses who stepped in to help.

Unfortunately, despite an extensive operation involving local, state, and federal resources, the second fisherman has not been located. This shift in focus has transitioned the mission from search-and-rescue to recovery. The missing individual has been identified as Kwahiwi Edwards, 34, from Queens, New York.

“Our thoughts and support go out to the family and loved ones of the missing fisherman as the search and recovery efforts persist,” a statement from the Fairfield Police and Fire Departments mentioned on social media.