Hoboken Fire Department Involved in Dramatic Early Morning Water Rescue Off Pier C

(photo courtesy of Joe Shine)

In what Hoboken Fire Chief Brian Crimmins is calling a, “courageous, spectacular event,” units from the Hoboken Fire Department, Hoboken Police Department and Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps were on hand to aid in the rescue of an individual pulled from the Hudson River off Pier C early Wednesday morning.

With the call coming in at 1:18 a.m., Hoboken Fire Department Ladder One arrived on the scene by land, while Marine One pulled up along Pier C to find a 22 year-old male from Lyndhurst in the water near the pier. Hoboken Police have reported that the male was intoxicated, and entered the water voluntarily.

A life ring was initially deployed, but with the victim going in and out of consciousness in the 50-degree water, Captain Chaneski, Firefighter Matos and Firefighter Twyford had to maneuver the boat and retrieve the individual directly from the water. Once on land, Captain Richards, Firefighter Ratto and Firefighter Nisbet aided with the rescue, eventually getting the victim to Jersey City Medical Center.

“I’m absolutely thrilled with the response,” said Chief Crimmins, who tells hMAG that HFD is involved with over 100 water emergencies on the Hudson each year.

Thank you to HFD Marine 1 for rescuing a semi-conscious victim from the Hudson River near Pier C this morning at approx 1:15 am.

Great work by all involved, especially Capt Chaneski, FF Twyford, and FF Matos! 👏👏👏 #NJRFTF pic.twitter.com/OVKRue5hrS

— Hoboken Fire Dept (@HobokenFire) November 6, 2019

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