Photo: Hero Lifeguards Honored in Riverhead

If it weren't for the efforts of brave Riverhead Town lifeguards and beach attendants, one Wading River man would not be alive today.

So said Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter as he honored staff including recreation beach attendant Patrick O'Neil, lifeguard Emma Delli Carpini and lifeguard Paul Iannacchino at Tuesday's town board work session.

The lifeguards worked together to save a man who was kayaking by Reeves Beach without a life preserver, Walter said; after he fell off, the man left the kayak, he added. "Always stay with the kayak," Walter advised, stressing the critical importance of wearing a life jacket.

"Life is precious and can end in a second," Walter said. "There is someone walking on the face of this earth today who wouldn't be, without the efforts of these individuals. Instead, we would have been attending a funeral. People like you make the beach safe."

Councilman John Dunleavy also thanked the heroes. "It was a team effort," he said.