Good Samaritan rescues victim of capsized boat in Moultonborough

MOULTONBOROUGH — What started as a beautiful Sunday on Lake Winnipesaukee ended in a capsized boat rescue thanks to the efforts of a good Samaritan on a jet ski.

At 5:25 p.m. on Aug. 17, town firefighters were called for a water rescue in the area of Bos' N Way, near Moultonborough Neck, roughly 500 yards from shore. The boat’s operator was standing on the hull of his capsized boat yelling for help.

“The call said a sailboat had flipped over with someone standing on top of it,” said Fire Chief David Bengtson. “He was out on a catamaran, and the wind picked up. It got pretty choppy and it flipped.”

A nearby jet skier aided the operator, helping to right the boat and sent the operator on his way. There were no injuries.

“The call brought out an automatic response from Moltonborough, Center Harbor, Meredith, Gilford and Tuftonboro, because that’s the way our response is set up for water rescue,” Bengtson said.

Marine Patrol also responded to the scene. 

"Upon arrival, a good Samaritan operating a private vessel informed the officers that they had already towed a small Hobie-style sailboat to shore," wrote Tyler Dumont, public information officer with New Hampshire's Department of Safety. "Efforts to make contact with the overturned vessel and its operator were unsuccessful."

Firefighters say they were on the scene for roughly 30 minutes.