FDNY divers pulled a person from the Hudson River on Wednesday evening in a fast, waterfront rescue caught on camera, turning a tense stretch of river into an active emergency scene in seconds. Crews from the department's marine response raced in, got the person out of the water and onto a vessel at the scene.
Video of the incident, posted by CBS News New York, shows divers working in close quarters as they lift someone into a fireboat. The clip confirms the rescue unfolded Wednesday evening but offers few concrete details about who was pulled from the water or how they were doing afterward.
How FDNY's marine teams respond
FDNY runs a tiered Marine Operations system that relies on a mix of large fireboats, smaller rapid-response craft and trained dive teams that stage around the harbor so they can hit the water fast when a call comes in. The department's Marine Operations Strategy lays out how boats, rescue swimmers and dive units are positioned and trained to handle river rescues and emergency medical care aboard vessels. That layered approach is detailed in a strategy document from FDNY.
Why the Hudson can turn life-threatening
The Hudson's tides, strong currents and cold water can flip a routine day on the river into a life-or-death emergency in a hurry. NOAA's Coast Pilot notes that survival times drop sharply as water temperature falls, and that hypothermia and cold-water incapacitation can set in quickly, which is why a rapid marine response is so critical on this stretch of river. Those survival guidelines are outlined for mariners and rescuers by NOAA.
As of the time of the CBS report, officials had not released the rescued person's name or condition, and city agencies had not immediately provided more information. This article will be updated if FDNY or other agencies release additional details.
