Civilian helps out officers in rescue effort.
Oswego, NY -- A fisherman drowned in the Oswego River Tuesday, despite rescue efforts by police, firefighters and members of the Coast Guard.
Rescue workers pulled four fisherman from the river shortly before 1 p.m. Two were evaluated by emergency medical personnel and released. Two others were taken to Oswego Hospital.
One of those two was pronounced dead at the hospital. The other remains there in serious condition.
Police are not releasing the names of the fisherman, pending notification of families.
See an earlier report on this incident below.
Oswego, NY -- Two of four fishermen pulled this afternoon in a dramatic rescue on the Oswego River in the city Oswego were sent to the Oswego Hospital, authorities said.
The two fishermen sent to the hospital were rescued by Oswego Fire Chief Jeffrey McCrobie and police officer Damian Waters, who both entered the water to get the fishermen. McCrobie handed the one he rescued off to a Coast Guard rescue boat, he said.
The Coast Guard took the man from McCrobie on the river near Coleman’s restaurant and began cardio-pulminary resuscitation, said Coast Guard BM-1 Jadon Sprague. The man was unconscious and not breathing when he was pulled onto the Coast Guard boat, Sprague said.
Two people were rescued by a city of Oswego Fire Department rescue boat as they were hanging from on object in the river near the Varrick Power Station, McCrobie said. The two were evaluated by paramedics on the scene and allowed to go, police said.
The other two floated north on the river, McCrobie said. He said he stripped off his duty shirt and entered the water with Waters.
McCrobie credited Francis Hoefer Jr., a civilian, with helping in the rescue of the second two fishermen. Hoefer was fishing further south when he saw the fishermen in the water and he ran along the shore following them. Hoefer handed McCrobie his life jacket and a throw line before McCrobie went in, McCrobie said.
When McCrobie was in the water, he lost sight of the fishermen. Hoefer, however, kept barking out directions to the rescuers, McCrobie said.
“This kid literally directed me from shore,” McCrobie said. “I couldn’t see him.”
Hoefer directed the rescuers on intersecting paths to the floating fishermen, McCrobie said.
“He did a fantastic job,” McCrobie said. “I can’t say enough about a civilian getting involved. He had our backs at the time. This kid was what we had for communication.”
Both the fishermen pulled out by McCrobie and Waters were wearing waders, McCrobie said.
Police have not released the identities of the fishermen.
The rescue effort was centered on the river between the dam and the Utica Street bridge to the north, officials said. It is believed the fishermen either fell in or were wading and were swept down the river, but no official word has been released how the people got into the river.
The 911 Center was alerted police to a fishermen in trouble on the river at 12:44 p.m. and Oswego police and firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard were all called to aid the fishermen, 911 reports.
By 1:35 p.m., police confirmed all four were accounted for, the 911 Center said.