Young Man Dies Trying To Save 10 Year Old Boy

From the Courant:

At around 3:30pm Sunday, Norwalk Police and Fire crews responded to an area of the Norwalk River known as Deering Pond. A 34-year-old man, his 10-year-old son and a 20-year-old family friend had been fishing. The young boy was playing in knee deep water when he apparently lost his balance and was swept into the water.

Both of the adults jumped into the river to help him.

When rescue personnel arrived they spotted the 10-year-old treading water and were able to rescue him from the water. His father was able to make it to shore. Witnesses told police that the 20-year-old man had not been seen since attempting to rescue the boy.
Firefighters were able to locate the man and bring him to shore. He later succumbed to his injuries at Norwalk Hospital and was pronounced dead at 4:18pm.

The Norwalk Police Department provide additional details:

On Monday, May 25, 2009 at 3:25 p.m. Norwalk Police, Norwalk Fire and Norwalk Hospital EMS crews responded to a report of a child in the water. Due to an initial language barrier, the incident was originally reported to be on Silvermine Avenue, however responding police and fire units were flagged down on Broad Street while enroute to Silvermine Avenue, just a short distance away.

Two Norwalk men, a 34 year old father and his 20 year old friend were fishing along the banks of the Norwalk River, at the end of a small dirt road which runs north from Broad Street, in an area known as Deering Pond. The area is adjacent to the Route 7 Connector. The 34 year old father had brought along his 10 year old son. While the two men were fishing, the 10 year old son was playing nearby with another boy in knee deep water. At some point the 10 year old son reportedly lost his footing and slipped into the water and was carried downstream with the current.

The two men both jumped into the river to assist the 10 year old. They were reportedly surprised at the strength of the current and struggled to stay afloat. The men were however able to reach the 10 year old boy and support him while trying to assist him.

When officers and firefighters arrived, the 10 year old was spotted treading water approximately 150-200 feet offshore. Three firefighters quickly jumped in, equipped with only PFD’s and tether lines and headed out to rescue the 10 year old boy. A few moments later, additional information gathered on shore indicated that the 20 year old man never made it out of the water and was also missing. Two of the three firefighters diverted to search for the 20 year old, while the third firefighter assured the safety of the 10 year old. The 20 year old man was found; face down in the water approximately 30 feet from the location of the 10 year old. The firefighters brought both victims ashore with assistance of the tether lines and additional firefighters on shore.

Paramedics immediately treated the 20 year old man at the scene, even prior to his transport to the Norwalk Hospital Emergency Department. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 16:18 p.m. His name is being withheld to allow for family notifications. An autopsy will be performed by the Office of the State Medical Examiner. The 10 year old boy was treated by Norwalk Hospital Paramedics at the scene and released in the care of his father. Both are doing well.

source: Courant, Young Man Dies Attempting To Save Child, By Alice Morrin, Fox 61, May 25, 2009