Editor’s note: The Camden Fire Department firefighter who died has been identified as longtime member
Howard Bennett. The veteran firefighter died on Feb. 5, after becoming trapped beneath the icy waters of a Camden Waterfront marina while working on a fire boat.
By Eric Conklin
nj.com
CAMDEN, N.J. — A veteran firefighter in South Jersey died on Thursday after being trapped beneath the waters of an icy marina at the Camden Waterfront, according to city officials.
The firefighter, a man in his 60s, was pronounced dead at Cooper University Hospital after falling through the ice at the Wiggins Park Marina, a body of water adjacent to the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, city Public Information Officer Vince Basara said.
The marina houses boats on the Delaware River at a complex that includes the Adventure Aquarium and the Battleship New Jersey.
The man’s name was not released while officials notified next of kin, Basara said. City officials held a press conference at the hospital on Thursday afternoon to provide more information.
The firefighter fell into the water around 11 a.m. and was submerged for several minutes, Basara said. He described the firefighter as a ‘longtime’ member of the department.
First responders performed life-saving measures before the firefighter was rushed to the hospital.
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