Firefighter David J. DeFranco Medal

Firefighter Cosmo DiOrio
Rescue Company 1

November 22, 2003, 0553 hours, Box 1542, Hudson River
at 12th Avenue/West 133rd Street, Manhattan

Appointed to the FDNY on May 8, 1984. Previously assigned to Engine 24, Ladder 5 and Ladder 80. Brother, Richard DiOrio, is a Firefighter in Ladder 23. Member of the Holy Name Society.

FF Cosmo DiOrio (second from left) with members of Rescue 1. photo courtesy of FF Cosmo DiOrio

Rescue 1 is a SCUBA Rescue and the members perform water rescues and in-water firefighting year-round. FF Cosmo DiOrio, assigned to Rescue 1, is also a dive instructor for the Department, helping to train new members in this discipline. In the early-morning hours of November 22, 2003, FF DiOrio would put all his skills, training and strength into play to effect the rescue of a victim in a submerged vehicle.

At 0553 hours, Rescue 1 was dispatched to Box 1542 at the location of 12th Avenue and West 133rd Street for a reported automobile in the Hudson River. As the Company was turning out, Manhattan dispatchers advised over the voice alarm that this was a confirmed vehicle in the water. En route to the incident, Lieutenant Anthony Tarabocchia ordered FFs DiOrio and Sean Cummins to don their SCUBA gear and prepare for a rapid, subsurface water rescue.

When Rescue 1 arrived on scene, they conferred with the Officer of Engine Co. 37, who had interviewed a passenger in the submerged vehicle. This person was able to evacuate the vehicle after it entered the water. He relayed to the members that the driver was still in the vehicle and pointed to its possible location. FF DiOrio was told this information as he descended a portable ladder that was placed into the water.

Lieutenant Tarabocchia knew this would be a difficult mission for FF DiOrio. The victim’s chance for survival was diminishing each minute he was underwater, the current was moving at about six knots and there was zero visibility. Simply put, this was a black water rescue dive in abnormal sea conditions.

FF DiOrio encountered many problems; the first was trying to locate the vehicle. He had some general information to work with, but with a rapid current and unknown bottom conditions, this was a difficult search. FF DiOrio began using a fan search pattern, a technique making half circles back and forth, progressively moving further away from shore until the vehicle was located.

On his second pass, FF DiOrio located the vehicle, which was submerged approximately 30 feet on the river floor. The vehicle had turned 90 degrees, floated about 30 feet up river and was facing the sea wall. FF DiOrio attempted to open one of the vehicle’s doors, but could not do so because of the strong water pressure.

Next, FF DiOrio used a spring-loaded center punch to break the windows, giving him an opening to enter and search the vehicle. FF DiOrio advised Lieutenant Tarabocchia via hard wire communication of this information.

This posed a problem, because FF DiOrio would have to enter the vehicle--a large SUV--to search for the trapped victim. The incident now had become a confined-space dive operation. There were many dangers, including the zero visibility, limited access and egress and potential snagging of his safety line.

FF DiOrio entered through a window and searched until he found the victim, Mark Young, in the driver’s seat. FF DiOrio knew that Mr. Young had to be removed to the surface right away for him to survive. The Firefighter had a difficult time removing the man from the vehicle because he was very large. Additionally, FF DiOrio’s safety line became snagged, making it hard for him to move.

Disregarding his own safety, FF DiOrio disconnected the safety line and secured it to the vehicle. This allowed him to remove the victim from the vehicle. After reconnecting his safety line, the Firefighter mustered his little remaining strength and brought the victim to the surface. This act posed another hurdle because there were shopping carts and other debris along the bottom, creating a snagging hazard.

FF DiOrio surfaced with Mr. Young and began to swim the 30 feet back toward the portable ladder. He was 15 feet from the ladder and exhausted, but he held tightly to Mr. Young. FF Cummins, also in the water, swam out and assisted FF DiOrio with bringing the victim to shore. Other FDNY members positioned on the ladder and on shore removed the victim from the water and started lifesaving measures. The victim was removed by EMS personnel to St. Luke’s Hospital, but later expired from his injuries.

This incident presented many difficulties associated with both water rescue and confined space. FF DiOrio was forced to overcome every one of them to save a trapped victim. He placed himself at unusual risk when he removed his safety line to remove the victim from the vehicle. That safety line was FF DiOrio’s only direct link to his back-up diver in case he became trapped or overcome. It is with great honor that the Firefighter David J. DeFranco Medal is awarded to FF Cosmo DiOrio for going above and beyond the call of duty to rescue this trapped man.--AP

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