Close Calls In Heavy Surf

There were a number of rescues in hurricane-generated ocean swells in recent days in addition to the dramatic rescue of a 9-year-old boy who was pulled from a fishing boat that sank off Shelter Island on Monday. A father, his daughter, and her cousin died in the accident, which occurred at about 2 p.m.

A little over two hours later on the same day, a brother and sister were rescued by an East Hampton Town lifeguard, with the help of a town harbormaster and a surfer on Napeague. Larry Leva, 42, of Rye, N.Y., and his sister, whose name was not learned at press time, were swimming in Monday's heavy surf near the White Sands Motel on Napeague when they were caught in a sea puss and pulled out.

Don Bousson, an East Hampton harbormaster, responded to the emergency call at 12:05 p.m. "I swam out and put him on a surfboard," he said. He said that one of two surfers who came to help offered the use of his board. The other retrieved Mr. Leva's sister. In the meantime a lifeguard was brought from Indian Wells Beach. The guard, with a life buoy and line, swam out to where Mr. Bousson and the victim were caught in a strong current. They were pulled ashore. Mr. Leva was taken by ambulance to Southampton Hospital. He was admitted and was listed in stable condition yesterday.

On Saturday at nearly the same location, five swimmers were pulled from the water with the help of Robert Perrosk of Piermont, N.Y. East Hampton Town Police Officers Chris Hatch and John Moss administered oxygen to the victims and to their savior. All were taken to the Wainscott Medical Center. Also on Saturday, an ambulance was called to the aid of a woman who hurt her neck in the surf at Hither Hills.

R.D.