Neighbor Rescues Two Men From Capsized Sailboat in NJ

When 78-year-old Mark Vizer's sailboat flipped in choppy Barnegat Bay waters on a Tuesday afternoon, neighbor James "Diamond" Sprague saw something most people only watch from shore. Instead of waiting for emergency responders, he grabbed his boat keys and became the rescue team.

The incident unfolded around 4:45 p.m. on June 16 near Cedar Run Dock Road in Stafford Township, New Jersey. Vizer and his passenger, 73-year-old Michael Fields, suddenly found themselves treading water 200 yards from shore as their vessel turned upside down.

Conditions on the bay were rough that day, making it harder for the men to stay afloat. But Sprague had already spotted them from his nearby home and was already on the water.

He pulled both men from the waves, brought them aboard his boat, and got them safely back to dry land. By the time Stafford Township Police officers arrived with their Marine Unit vessel, the rescue was complete.

The Stafford Township First Aid Squad checked both men at the scene. Neither Vizer nor Fields had suffered any injuries, and both were able to go home that evening.

Sunny's Take

This is the kind of neighbor everyone hopes to have. Sprague didn't film the crisis or debate whether to get involved. He simply saw people in trouble and used what he had to help.

His quick action meant the difference between a scary close call and a potential tragedy. While emergency responders from the police department and U.S. Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light were on their way, those minutes matter when people are struggling in rough water.

The Stafford Township Police Department publicly thanked Sprague for his quick response. Sea Tow later recovered the sailboat, but the real save happened when one person decided that helping was more important than hesitating.

Barnegat Bay will see plenty more boats this summer, and hopefully, fewer capsizes. But when things go wrong on the water, it's good to know there are people like Diamond Sprague keeping watch.