Police: Man Jumps Into Hudson River In Hoboken On A Dare
HOBOKEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Rescuers dove into action to save a man who jumped into the Hudson River on a dare Sunday night, authorities said.
Damien Bziukiewicz, 22, jumped off the southern end of Pier A around 9 p.m. all because of a dare from his friends, Hoboken Police Chief Kenneth Ferrante told 1010 WINS.
"The Hudson River is not made for swimming," Ferrante said. "There's very fast currents, especially at the change of tides; there's also an undertow, sometimes if you go in underneath the surface of the water you can be pulled out further to the middle of the river or even further south towards the Statue of Liberty."
Several agencies, including the Hoboken Fire Marine unit along with the NYPD's harbor and aviation units, responded to help the East Rutherford man when he began to struggle in the water, Ferrante said.
Police threw him a rope and the fire department lowered a ladder over the side of the pier so he could climb out, Ferrante said.
Great job HPD under Sgt. Sellick, HFD and NYPD Harbor Patrol and Aviation Units https://t.co/cVgaay4Zim
— Chief Ken Ferrante, Ret. (@KenFerrante) June 15, 2015
Bziukiewicz was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
He's charged with violating an ordinance that bans swimming in waters abutting public parks.
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