Kayla Masotto’s quick thinking and brave actions prevent tragedy as she rescues a man from icy waters
On December 26, 2024, a Long Island woman, Kayla Masotto, became a local hero after rescuing a man who fell into the freezing waters of Poospatuck Creek. Masotto, from Mastic Beach, sprang into action when she saw the man attempt to ride a jet ski on a semi-frozen part of the creek, only for the vehicle to malfunction and sink, sending him into the icy water.
Masotto was watching TV when she noticed the man struggling on the ice. After offering assistance, he initially said he was fine, but soon after, his jet ski started smoking and sank, plunging him into the freezing water.
Realizing the man’s danger, Masotto grabbed her paddleboard from the basement and headed to the creek. A video posted on Facebook by Paul Peluso shows Masotto maneuvering the paddleboard across the ice until she reached the stranded man. Once there, she helped him onto the board and began pulling him toward safety.
Nearby men from a local marina threw a rope to assist, and the man was safely pulled to shore just as rescue personnel arrived. Masotto told News 12 Long Island that the man was suffering from numbness and could not move his fingers or limbs. She described her actions as instinctive, saying there was “no time to think” and that her only concern was ensuring he made it home to his family.
The Mastic Fire Department later confirmed that the man showed signs of hypothermia, but after being evaluated at the hospital, he was expected to recover. Chief Steven Januszkiewicz praised Masotto’s quick thinking, emphasizing that her timely intervention saved the man’s life.
