More than a dozen people were rushed to a New York-area hospitals after members of the Fordham rowing team capsized in choppy Eastchester Bay on Saturday.
New York City Fire Department officials say both athletes and staff as well as other students were on the water near City Island when the vessel overturned.
A witness called 911 at around 12:15pm local time as a civilian boat helped to bring all 19 people to shore at a peninsula known as Rodman’s Neck.
There are no reported injuries among the nine athletes, eight students and two coaches. A Fordham spokesperson told People.com that the school did lose one row boat in the incident.
‘Fordham can confirm that nine members of the men’s club rowing team were pulled from the water after their boat capsized due to a sudden shift in weather conditions on Eastchester Bay,’ read the statement from Fordham University.
‘New York City regulations required that the nine student-athletes, and the eight additional students and two coaches who helped them, be taken to area hospitals for examination because the party came ashore on city property at Rodman’s Neck,’ the statement continued. ‘There were no injuries, and all of the individuals involved were examined and released.’
Eastchester Bay (pictured) is among several areas where Fordham’s crew team practices
NYPD Emergency Service Unit and the NYPD Harbor Unit also responded to the scene on Saturday, which was typically cloudy, rainy early spring day in the city.
Eastchester Bay is among several areas where Fordham’s crew team practices thanks to its typically calmer water and absence of any trade ports that might attract larger, more disruptive ships. The team has also been known to row on the Long Island Sound as well as the Hutchinson River.
Fordham’s rowing team is in action again on Saturday and Sunday in Cherry Hill, New Jersey for the annual Knecht Cup Regatta.
The sport debuted at Fordham in 1915, and aside from World War hiatuses, has been running continuously since 1957.
Over that time, Fordham has had 10 undefeated crews and 20 national championships.
