35 New York-Area Police, Fire Department and Private Citizen Heroes Honored for Lifesaving Water Rescues

NEW YORK, NY, April 12, 2005 -- The Life Saving Benevolent Association (LSBA) will commend 35 New York and New Jersey police officers, firefighters, emergency services personnel, and private citizens for their heroic lifesaving water rescues along the shores of New York, New Jersey and Long Island.

Klaus G. Dorfi, president of the LSBA and chairman and CEO of Atlantic Mutual, will honor the award recipients today at a 10 AM ceremony at the Seamen's Church Institute of New York and New Jersey at 241 Water Street, New York.

The awards continue a tradition begun in 1849, when the New York legislature granted a request from New York ship owners, merchants and insurers–including Atlantic Mutual, a 152-year supporter–to charter the Life Saving Benevolent Association. One of its first actions was to establish 26 lifesaving stations at five-mile intervals along the Long Island and New Jersey shorelines. (These stations were eventually taken over by what became the U.S. Coast Guard.)

The first LSBA award ceremonies began in 1850; since then the LSBA has honored the lifesaving efforts of more than 1,000 police officers, firefighters and civilians. The first recipients of LSBA awards were a father and son who saved two men clinging to the bottom of their capsized schooner off Eaton's Neck, Long Island. In addition to rewarding rescuers, the LSBA contributes to non-profit organizations that promote maritime safety, including: New York Maritime College, State University of New York, Maritime Scholarship Endowment Fund, the Maine Maritime Academy, and the Seamen's Church Institute.

The heroic individuals and the lifesaving rescues for which they are being honored are described below.

Officer Frank Pellegrino and Sergeant Paul Reynolds, of the New York City Police Department SCUBA Team: Around 3:00 AM on April 14, 2003, Officer Pellegrino and Sergeant Reynolds were aboard Air-Sea Rescue Helicopter #12 when it found three people, one an autistic boy, in the Hells Gate area of the East River. Dressed in surface rescue gear, both officers disregarded the treacherous 4.5-knot current and 40-degree water and jumped into the river from the hovering helicopter. They swam over to two of the victims, the autistic child and a man, who was holding onto a line underneath a dilapidated pier. The officers provided flotation to the hypothermic victims and often had to be submerged while doing so. Meanwhile, NYPD's boat Harbor George arrived and the officers recovered the third victim down stream. Harbor George then came upstream and both officers helped lift the victims from the water. All three victims fully recovered.

Officers George Sichler and Francis Vitale, of the New York City Police Department SCUBA Team: At 3:00 AM on October 19, 2003, Officers Sichler and Vitale were dispatched on Aviation Helicopter #12 to find an emotionally disturbed person on a local but unidentified bridge. Searching the area, they eventually found the man on the George Washington Bridge. While ground units tried to "talk the man down," the man unexpectedly fell from the bridge. The divers jumped from the helicopter almost immediately. They kept the unconscious man afloat as they fought the swift current approximately 1/2 mile from shore in total darkness. Under these treacherous conditions, they were able to load the male into the rescue basket and have him hoisted aboard the helicopter.

Private citizen Wayne Roger Christiansen of Toms River, New Jersey: About 7:30 AM on December 13, 2003, Mr. Christiansen was getting ready to scrape the ice of his truck windshield and head for work when he saw a fast-moving sports utility vehicle loose control around a bend in the road, go through the guardrail, and plunge down the embankment into a swollen river. Mr. Christiansen ran back inside his house, told his wife to call 911, and then sprinted to the scene. The vehicle was starting to sink. Mr. Christiansen took off his shoes and jumped in. He swam to the vehicle and finally gained entry through the back passenger door. The driver was stuck and disoriented, and the water was rising up to her neck. Mr. Christiansen grabbed her shoulders and told her to kick her feet. She broke free. He pulled her out through the back door and swam her to the bank, where a bystander helped drag her out.

Firefighter Paul Miller of the New York City Fire Department: At 6:05 PM on April 28, 2004, Firefighter Miller was working in Ladder Co. 48 when it pulled alongside the Bronx River near Lafayette Avenue following a report of a person in the water. While others started preparing a rope and life ring, Firefighter Miller and Lt. Rich Glover scrambled down the embankment and spotted a 10-year old girl in the middle of the river, clinging to the side of a canoe. They tried to reassure the girl, who was showing signs of hypothermia. Firefighter Miller began to remove his heavy gear just in case. Suddenly, the canoe rolled and she lost her grip, went under, and drifted farther downstream. Without hesitation, Firefighter Miller stripped off the rest of his gear and dove in to the frigid water. He swam 90 feet to reach her, put her in a cross-chest carry, and side-stroked back to shore.

Marine Engineer Joseph C. Stark of the New York City Fire Department: On the rainy afternoon of May 3, 2004, Engineer Stark was aboard Marine Company #1's fireboat as it investigated and confirmed a man in the Hudson River near Pier 54. Seeing the life threatening distress of the victim, Engineer Stark jumped into 48-degree water with just a flotation jacket. He fought through 25 knot winds and driving rain and weaved through jagged submerged pilings to reach the victim. But the emotionally disturbed victim resisted rescue, and Engineer Stark had to dive among the jagged pilings to catch and subdue him. At this point, a crewmate in an exposure suit joined Stark to help. It took several attempts to get the highly combative man aboard Marine 1, and it took two members onboard to hold the victim down. Meanwhile, Stark and his crewmate held onto the jagged pilings until another boat came to retrieve them. Both were sent to St. Vincent's Hospital due to extensive trauma and contusions, along with hypothermia.

Firefighter Thomas McGlade of the New York City Fire Department: Around 12:30 PM on July 13, 2004, Firefighter McGlade and the rest of Ladder 14 arrived at the Harlem River and East 116th Street in response to a call about a man in the water. Engine 91 was already there and reported that the man had been swept under the cement promenade. Fearing that the victim was in immediate danger, Firefighter McGlade removed his shoes and radio, quickly surveyed the scene, and jumped 15 feet in to the water without the aid of a safety line. He found the victim wedged 10 feet inside a small out cove. The victim was emotionally disturbed and resisted rescue until Firefighter McGlade swam forward, took the victim by the arm, and pulled him from under the promenade. As they emerged, the victim saw the large rescue team and again became angry, but Firefighter McGlade was able to calm the victim and get him up a ladder, where he was secured by police and taken to a local hospital.

Officer Michael Corbett of the Long Beach, NY Police Department: Around 6:30 PM on July 19, 2004, Officer Corbett was on beach patrol duty when he noticed three male youths having trouble swimming toward shore. As he rushed to the scene, two of the youths gained their footing. But the third youth began to drift away in a rip current. Officer Corbett immediately sent an emergency transmission and removed his gun belt and uniform. At that time, he was joined by civilian, who entered the surf first. Officer Corbett followed with his rescue torpedo and fins. The civilian got to the victim first and tried to calm him. Then, Officer Corbett arrived and placed the youth in a cross-chest carry and swam him out of the rip current and then 125 yards back to shore. The victim was treated and released by the Long Beach Fire Department.

Detectives Raymond Flood, John Latimer, Peter McGovern, and Richard Reilly of the New York City Police: On the afternoon of July 21, 2004 Detectives Flood, Latimer, McGovern and Reilly arrived at a bridge at Westchester Avenue between Sheridan Expressway and Bronx River Avenue in response to a call about a man who might jump. But just as the detectives arrived, the man jumped off and plunged 75 feet to the river below. Detectives Flood and McGovern immediately donned dive suits and grabbed a life ring while Detectives Latimer and Reilly put on flotation vests. They climbed down a 50-foot slope to the river and got in. Detectives Flood and McGovern swam 40 yards through deep water, dodged floating debris to reach the victim, calmed him down, and placed the life ring over his neck and arms. As they swam back with the victim, Detectives Latimer and Reilly met them in approximately 5 feet of water and helped them pull the victim from the river and back up the slope to a NYC EMS ambulance.

Officers George Sichler and Michael Egan of the New York City Police Department Harbor/SCUBA Team: At 10:15 AM on July 25, 2004 Officers Sichler and Egan were dispatched via Aviation Helicopter #14 to a disabled boat in waves cresting at 6 feet off Sandy Hook, NJ. As the helicopter approached, they could see the victim frantically waving his hands. Timing their entry to avoid being knocked by the waves, the divers jumped from the helicopter and swam against a strong current to the vessel. They pulled themselves with great difficulty onto the pitching vessel and decided they needed to evacuate the hypothermic victim immediately. Unfortunately, the wildly rocking boat could entangle a hoist cable, so they had to jump back in the rough sea with the victim and use hand signals to direct the hoist operation. Officers Sichler and Egan then swam over 1,000 yards in the raging current to the shore.

Officers Charles Cusack and John Mazzuca of the Ocean City, NJ Police Department: At 8:20 PM on July 29, 2004, officers were dispatched to the 11th Street beach of Ocean City following a report of a swimmer in distress. Officer Cusack arrived first and learned that two boys, age 10 and 15, were caught in high surf. Officer Cusack, along with two civilians, ran in to the water towards the closest boy. Just then, Officer Mazzuca and two other officers arrived, so Officer Cusack stopped and pointed in the direction of the second boy. By this time, one of the civilians had reached the first boy but was too exhausted to bring him in. Officer Cusack and the other civilian formed a human chain in crashing waves and water over 7 feet deep to pull them ashore to safety. Meanwhile, Officer Mazzuca and the other officers found the second boy floating with difficulty out past the breakers. Using a floatation device and rope, Officer Mazzuca was able to reach the victim and, along with the assistance of his fellow officers, bring the second boy to shore.

Officers Michael Egan, Kenneth Fehn, and Francis Vitale of the New York City Police Department SCUBA Team: On the morning of August 1, 2004, Officers Fehn, Vitale and Egan were aboard NYPD SCUBA Launch 37 as it waited beneath the Brooklyn Bridge in case an emotionally disturbed woman jumped from above. Ground units on the bridge began to approach the woman, but before they could reach her, the woman jumped. Officers Fehn, Vitale and Egan entered the swiftly flowing river and swam to the victim, who was laying face down. The officers raised her head and she gasped for air. The officers brought the victim back to the launch and lifted her aboard. They took measures to prevent her from going into shock until the launch reached Pier 16. They then assisted EMT personnel in removing her from the boat.

Private citizen Erin Wright of Point Pleasant, NJ: Around 5:30 PM on August 8, 2004, while collecting shells with her family on the Manasquan, NJ beach, Mrs. Wright saw a young man waving for help. His brother had been caught in a rip tide and was now struggling far out in the ocean, perhaps twice the distance of the jetty. Mrs. Wright kept her eye on the victim while her husband left to search for help. The lifeguards had already gone off duty. As the minutes passed, Mrs. Wright grew increasingly concerned. A former lifeguard, she began to consider leaving her two kids on the beach to attempt a rescue. But five years as a stay-at-home mom and recent hip surgery had taken their toll. With no one else responding, Mrs. Wright borrowed a paddleboard and ran in to the water, calling out reassurance as she progressed. Along the way, she saw an off-duty lifeguard had also reached the victim. The victim clung to the paddleboard and Mrs. Wright and the lifeguard pulled the victim to the shore.

Private citizen David Moyal of Great Neck, NY: At approximately 6:30 PM on August 14, 2004, Mr. Moyal noticed two swimmers in distress in hurricane surf conditions off Long Beach near National Blvd. A rescue effort was already underway by police officers since the lifeguards were already gone for the day. He noticed that one of the officers in the water seemed to be in trouble. The officer had been fighting the 6-foot waves and rip tide for nearly 10 minutes, was fatigued and had swallowed a lot of water. Without hesitation, Mr. Moyal jumped on his surfboard and paddled to him. Mr. Moyal was able to safely get the officer to shore, where he was given medical attention. The other officers were able to rescue the two swimmers.

Private citizens Michael Notar and Matthew Johnson of Pompton Plains, NJ: Around noon time on August 14, 2004, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Notar were swimming in the ocean off Lavalette, NJ when Mr. Johnson noticed a little boy in trouble 50 feet farther out from them. The boy could not swim and had been caught in the undertow, which was incredibly strong that day due to a hurricane off Florida. Mr. Johnson immediately swam to the boy and told him to grab his shoulders. But the frightened boy put his arms around Mr. Johnson's neck and climbed on his back, making it even harder for Mr. Johnson to swim against the rip tide. Mr. Johnson began to tire. Fortunately, Mr. Notar was watching. He swam to Mr. Johnson, took the boy on his back, and swam to a point where he could stand. A lifeguard then took the boy to safety while Mr. Notar went back to help his exhausted friend get back to land.

Private citizen Eric Cranny of Newark, DE: On the morning of August 21, 2004, Mr. Cranny was monitoring the finish line at a swimming race in the Peconic Bay during windy and choppy conditions. While standing in 3-5 feet of water about 100 feet from shore, he heard people shouting for him to look out towards the deep water. He turned to see a fellow volunteer being swept away in the strong current of a nearby boat channel. Mr. Cranny immediately went after him. As Mr. Cranny came within 10 feet, the victim went under. Mr. Cranny dove down in the murky water and felt around until he hit the man's arm. He pulled the victim to the surface and kept his limp body afloat as the current dragged them beyond the edge of the peninsula and into the bay. Doing his best to head towards the closest dock, Mr. Cranny kept swimming in the rough conditions for over 7 minutes until a rescue boat came. The skipper threw Mr. Cranny a life saver, which Mr. Cranny gave to the victim. Mr. Cranny then climbed aboard and helped the skipper pull the victim aboard.

Firefighter Brian Mullen of the New York City Fire Department: Late in the afternoon of August 26, 2004, off-duty Firefighter Mullen was with his family on the Rockaway Beach at 134th Street when he heard the lifeguard whistle, indicating a person was in distress. He dove into the water without a floatation device and fought 10-foot waves and strong riptides to reach the teenage girl 75 yards away. She was laying face down in the water, barely conscious. Firefighter Mullen lifted her face out of the water, providing a clear airway, and then performed the Heimlich maneuver to rid the lungs of water. He also administered one rescue breath. The victim suddenly became alert. With the help of lifeguards and retired Firefighter Peter Stathis, he guided the victim back to the beach, where additional first aid was provided.

Private citizen Kristin Bledsoe of Rockaway Park, NY and Firefighter Brian Sullivan of the New York City Fire Department: Around 4 PM on September 16, 2004, Ms. Bledsoe was relaxing on the Rockaway beach and off-duty Firefighter Sullivan was riding his bike along the boardwalk when they both heard cries for help. Three teen boys were being swept away by a riptide. Firefighter Sullivan told bystanders to call 911 as he ran to and retrieved the closest teen, who was 20 yards offshore. Then, he ran back for the others, who were now over 100 yards offshore. Meanwhile, Ms. Bledsoe borrowed a body board and plunged in to the waves. Reaching the victims about the same time, the two were able to pull both teens, now submerged, to the surface. They supported the teens, one of them unconscious, with the body board and started back to shore. They were met in the water and assisted by firefighters who had also responded with rescue surfboards. They all brought the teens to shore.

Firefighters Sean Brown and Alexander Brown, of the New York City Fire Department: At 4:16 PM on September 20, 2004, New York Fire Department Ladder 170 arrived at the Canarsie Pier in Brooklyn in response to a report of multiple victims in the water. Firefighters Sean and Alexander Brown donned cold water suits, secured themselves to a tag line, and jumped into the water 16 feet below. Each methodically dragged one victim to ladders that had been lashed to the pier by other firefighters. As the two victims were helped up the ladders, both firefighters went back to rescue a third victim, a mentally retarded and obese male, who had swallowed a large amount of water and was slipping in and out of consciousness. Struggling to keep the large male afloat, Firefighters Sean and Alexander Brown maneuvered him in to a Stokes basket that had been lowered by other members of Ladder Company 170. The victim was hoisted up to the pier, treated by EMS, and transported to the hospital.

Officers Michael Egan and Francis Vitale of the New York City Police Department: At 9:04 AM on September 23, 2004, Officers Egan and Vitale were assigned to the Air-Sea Rescue helicopter at Floyd Bennett Field when it responded to a report of a car in Jamaica Bay off of Beach 106 Street. When they arrived on the scene, no car could be found, but there was a man in the bay desperately trying to find a hold on the rotting sea wall, which reached 10-15 feet above water. The victim had evidently driven his car down a boat ramp into the bay, but was able to climb out before it sank. Officers Egan and Vitale jumped out of the helicopter, secured life saving gear around the victim, and swam him 100-150 feet to the boat ramp, where they exited the water safely with the victim.

Officers Shane Moran and Charles Schnetzer of the New York City Police Department: At approximately 10:00 AM on October 3, 2004, Officers Moran and Schnetzer were assigned to Air-Sea Rescue Helicopter #12 when it responded to a call that two victims were in trouble on a sailboat off Coney Island. After finding nothing at the reported site, the helicopter finally spotted the victims further out to sea, clinging to the overturned hull of the vessel. The helicopter pulled in to position about 35 yards away from the boat, and Officers Moran and Schentzer jumped in with their full Scuba gear on. One victim began swimming to the rescuers, but his life jacket slipped off and he went under. Officer Schnetzer brought him to the surface and secured a rescue tube around him. Officer Moran swam to the other victim and secured his life jacket. The officers then waved down a passing fishing boat and loaded the victims on board.

Detective Kevin Keuchler of the New York City Police Department: At approximately 8:20 PM on April 14, 2004, Detective Keuchler responded to a report of an emotionally disturbed male who had jumped into the East River in the vicinity of Pike Street and the FDR. FDNY units already on the scene had rigged a ladder down to the river but were unable to enter the water without flotation devices. Detective Keuchler donned his dry suit and lifeline and jumped in to the river 10 feet below. He brought the victim back to the ladder and pushed him up until firefighters grabbed the man to take him the rest of the way. But about 8 feet up the ladder, the man slipped from their grasp and fell back in to the river. Once again Detective Keuchler grabbed the semiconscious male and dragged him back to the ladder. This time, the man was successfully pulled up and taken to Bellvue Hospital by EMS personnel.

Firefighter Daniel Baron of the New York City Fire Department: At 11:42 PM on July 15, 2004, Rescue Company 5 in Staten Island was dispatched to a former reservoir known as Silver Lake on the report of a young man drowning. Firefighter Baron was serving as the primary diver, and he began preparing his equipment as they sped to the scene, about 5 minutes away. When they arrived, witnesses pointed to the area where the victim had disappeared underwater. In his SCUBA gear, Firefighter Baron entered the murky and debris clogged water and swam down the steep slope to a depth of 15 feet. Working in zero visibility conditions, Firefighter Baron searched in a fan pattern to find the victim and then brought him up with the help of tethered line being pulled from shore. At the water's edge, the victim was placed in a Stokes basket and hauled up the steep embankment. Unfortunately, the victim perished even though less than five minutes had elapsed from the time Firefighter Baron entered the water to the victim's retrieval.

Captain Daniel DiMartino and Firefighter Michael Killcommons of the New York City Fire Department: Around 10:00 PM on November 3, 2004, Captain DiMartino and his Special Operations Battalion, including Firefighter Killcommons, responded to a report of a woman who had jumped off the 36th Avenue Bridge into the East River. Captain DiMartino ordered his team to set up portable lights and other equipment, and then headed toward the bridge. He soon spotted the victim clinging to a rock about 20 feet from the shore. Captain DiMartino climbed over the railing, hung off the edge of the pier, and dropped several feet to the rocky shore below. Without hesitation and without protective gear, he entered the 50-degree water and made his way over to the victim while fighting the strong current. Firefighter Killcommons followed the Captain's lead. In similar fashion, he vaulted the guardrail, dropped off the pier, and dashed in to the river. Together, they pulled the woman, who was obese and disoriented, back to shore through the swift current. By now, a ladder had been rigged from the rocky shore to the top of the pier. Captain DeMartino and Firefighter Killcommons guided the victim up the ladder to safety.

Sergeant Edward Allen and Officer Thomas Capo of the New York City Police Department Emergency Service Unit: At 7:25 AM on November 20, 2004, Officer Capo and Sergeant Allen responded to a report of a man threatening to jump into the East River at the FDR Drive and Pier 16. Upon arrival, Officer Capo and Sergeant Allen learned that the male had, in fact, jumped off the pier. They quickly donned dry suits, personal flotation devices and life lines, and then descended approximately 15 feet to the water and swam to the victim, who was fighting to stay afloat in the 52-degree water. The male was combative, and Offer Capo and Sergeant Allen had to struggle with him before successfully tying a life line around him. They swam the victim back to a ladder erected by other members of the Emergency Service Unit. The male was carried up the ladder and treated for exposure.

About the Life Saving Benevolent Association

The Life Saving Benevolent Association (LSBA) was founded in 1849 by a special act of the New York Legislature to operate lifesaving stations on the coasts of New York and New Jersey and to reward acts of heroism at sea. The Association also encourages training in seamanship, lifeboat work, water rescue methods and submersion victim resuscitation.

About The Atlantic Companies

The Atlantic Companies, also known as Atlantic Mutual, is a group of diversified financial services companies with a Wall Street heritage dating back to 1842. The group is widely known for the Atlantic Master Plan insurance program, which is designed specifically for affluent individuals and sold through a select group of independent agents. The Atlantic Companies acts as a property-casualty insurer, manages claims for commercial insurance, and helps other business partners target profitable niches in the insurance marketplace. Additional information about The Atlantic Companies and the Atlantic Master Plan can be found at www.atlanticmasterplan.com.


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