Man saved from drowning

A man struggling to stay afloat afer his kayak capsized in the Amityville River was rescued, thanks to a barking dog and alert resident. Police gave this account: At approximately 8:40 a.m., July 1, Joseph Hess, 32, of 333 Broadway, Massapequa was in serious trouble, barely able to keep his head above water in the River. "Smooch," a dog owned by Randy Ronback, 65 of 75 McDonald Ave., Amityville alerted his owner who went to the canal in the rear of his home and saw Hess was in trouble. "As I was getting there, I could see the guy's head above water and he went under twice before I got to him," said Ronback, who grabbed a crab net and Hess was able to hold on to it and keep his head above water. "I got him along side the board but he was too weak to pull himself in, so I grabbed him and pulled him in."

Also rescued was Pamela Coppola, 32 of New York City.

Ronback owns a dock building company and said he has seen his share of tragedy on the water. "I was just glad I was able to get there in time," he told the Amityville Village Police Department, which responded with the Amityville Fire Department. Both Hess, of Broadway, Massapequa, and Coppola were taken to New Island Hospital for treatment.

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