Firefighters Rescue Woman in Icy Waters

Members of Engine 70 and Ladder 53, (L to R) FF Matt Tringali, FF Joseph Florio, FF Charlie Piranio, FF Tim Conroy, Lt. Jose Garcia, FF Mark Babcock, Lt. Chris Kelly, FF Jim Nolan, FF Walter Henning, FF Andy Rondon and FF Billy Sherwin.

Firefighters from Ladder 53 rescued a woman who fell into the icy waters off City Island on Dec. 17.

“We did what we were trained to do,” said Lt. Chris Kelly of Ladder 53.

At 4:17 a.m., firefighters were called to 515 City Island Ave. for a woman in the water.

When they arrived they heard screams from the dock, so Firefighter Walter Henning forced open the entry gate and then the company made their way 200 yards down the snowy pier. There they found a man frantically trying to keep a woman’s head above water.

The man was a neighbor, who heard the woman’s screams and came to help.

“She was close to death,” said Firefighter Henning. “She was in really bad shape.”

The firefighters quickly pulled the woman two feet to the pier, wrapped her in blankets and packaged her before handing her off to EMS members. She was transported to Jacobi Medical Center in stable condition.

The man was helped to the pier and refused medical attention.

“[The firefighters] did a really great job,” said Lt. Kelly. “The victim was really lucky everything worked out like it did.”