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Woman saved from drowning in Peconic River

BARBARAELLEN KOCH FILE PHOTO | Riverhead police and a local woman saved a 57-year-old woman from drowning in the Peconic River Wednesday night.

Riverhead police and a local woman saved a 57-year-old woman from drowning in the Peconic River Wednesday night, police said.

Susan Reeve, of Riverhead, was fishing in the Peconic River near the Treasure Cove Marina when she noticed something floating in the water about 7 p.m., said Riverhead police Lt. David Lessard.

“She saw something floating and it was the woman’s head just above the water,” he said.

The victim, Terrie Wood, had fallen into the river near the boardwalk and drifted about an eighth of a mile east, Lt. Lessard said.

Ms. Reeve rushed to Ms. Wood’s aid, held her above the water and began calling for help, police said. Authorities were assisted at the scene by Garrett Moore and pulled Ms. Wood from the water onto his boat, police said. Mr. Moore is a Riverhead High School social studies teacher.

She was semi-conscious and hypothermic as Riverhead ambulance volunteers took her to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment. As of 10:30 p.m. she was in stable condition, Lt. Lessard said.  An update on her condition was unavailable.

Lt. Lessard said Ms. Wood was lucky to have remained afloat since she was wearing a “puffy coat.”

“You’d think it might have filled up and pulled her down, but it gave her enough buoyancy to stay above the water,” Mr. Lessard said. “Mrs. Wood is very lucky that Reeve was there.”

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