By FDNY
NEW YORK — Firefighters aboard Marine 1 Alpha rescued a man hanging on Pier 62 in the Hudson River on May 17.
“The guys were very professional and did a great job,” said Lt. Michael Ansbro.
A call was received at around 10 p.m., for a man in the water near Chelsea Piers.
Lt. Ansbro and Firefighters James Rozas and Paul Ruckdeschel took Marine 1 Alpha to the area and used a flashlight to search for the man, as the rain and fog made it difficult to see.
They quickly located the victim — a man who was approximately 30 years old — on one of the pilings at the end of the pier. The members said he was heard yelling, “help me!”
“He was definitely happy to see us,” Lt. Ansbro said.
Firefighter Ruckdeschel was the pilot and navigated the boat through the rough current to the pilings as Firefighter Rozas donned a wetsuit, so he could jump in and rescue the man if necessary.
Lt. Ansbro said the victim was in a “tough spot,” but the members, “got the boat right were it had to be, which was difficult because the current was really moving. To keep it there and hold it there was a challenge, but they did an excellent job.”
In fact, the team navigated close enough to the victim that they could pass him a hook and pull him to the boat. They moved him to the rear of the boat and the members grabbed his arms and pulled him aboard.
They provided him a blanket and took him to the area between piers 61 and 62, where they were met by EMS members who transported him to Bellevue Hospital.
"[A person] won’t last long in the water at this time of year,” Lt. Ansbro said. “The longer you’re in there the more chance for serious problems, so it’s good we were able to get him when we did.”
Republished with permission from FDNY.