Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office

BEMUS POINT — Four men, who were on a 15-foot outboard vessel for waterfowl hunting, were rescued this morning after the watercraft overturned on Chautauqua Lake.

Chautauqua County sheriff’s deputies report a pedestrian called 911 reporting hearing calls of distress on the lake near Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point around 6 a.m. Saturday. Deputies and members of the Chautauqua County Wet Emergency Team arrived on scene within five minutes. At that time, the subjects had been in the water for approximately 30 minutes.

Only one subject was wearing a personal floatation device. All four subjects were experiencing symptoms of hypothermia and unable to swim.

Deputies were able to swim out and bring in two subjects. Bemus Point and Ellery Center Volunteer Fire personnel utilized watercraft to rescue the remaining two subjects.

The four male subjects were identified as Daniel F. Auria, 39, of Panama, Jonathan Bellardo, 31, of Frewsburg, Matthew Calimeri, 30, of Jamestown, and Howard Talbot, 39, of Jamestown. All four subjects were transported to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital for treatment of hypothermia symptoms, and are expected to recover fully.