Current hindered pair’s return to safety
When the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department issued a press release on July 5 describing how a deputy jumped into the Hudson River on the Fourth of July to help two people who ran into trouble while swimming at Little Stony Point, Evan Thompson’s efforts were omitted.
Thompson, the manager of the Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve, said he had finished work earlier on July 4 but came back to Little Stony Point around 8 p.m. to ensure that visitors were leaving the beach for the day. When he and a park ranger walked to the beach, they were met by visitors who told them two swimmers in the river were having difficulty.
Thompson borrowed a small flotation ring from a park visitor, stripped down to his underwear and swam out to the couple. Swimming is prohibited at the beach, where the combination of the Hudson River’s currents and tide can be deadly.
“They were way out there and couldn’t get back to the beach because of the current,” he said. “It looked like they were about to go under.”
By the time Thompson reached the man and woman — who the Sheriff’s Department said were from Westchester County — and had them grab a flotation ring, they were exhausted, he said. Together, the three were unable to overcome the current and return safely to shore.
“I didn’t know what was going to happen,” said Thompson.
Although someone on shore had called 911 and first responders soon arrived at the beach, it was a civilian boat that came to their rescue. On board were people heading to Cornwall to watch fireworks, said Thompson. “They threw us a line and pulled us back to shore,” he said.
The woman seemed fine, he said. However, the man received oxygen and intravenous fluids from first responders. Thompson’s swimming background, which included taking a lifeguard class and swimming competitively from age 6 to 14, may have saved both of their lives.
Thompson said he would have “thought about the day for the rest of my life” if he had not jumped into the river to help. The incident should give people pause, he said.
“When the current and the tide run together it’s almost impossible to deal with, even on a boat,” said Thompson. “We spend a lot of time trying to keep people out of the water, but people just don’t get it and they want to go in.”
That’s who Evan is. Great job!
You are a good and courageous man, Mr. Thompson. :-)
Unfortunately, this story is yet another sad reminder of how the former Putnam County executive and her puppets on the Legislature stripped the Sheriff’s Office of the funding for its Hudson River patrol, as well as the free boat provided to the county by New York State, over a political vendetta. We shouldn’t be relying upon civilian boaters in these situations. [via Facebook]
Because signs are posted that no swimming is allowed at Little Stony Point, the swimmers were clearly trespassing and should be charged and made to pay the costs of their rescue. [via Facebook]
I counted 12 emergency vehicles racing at high speed down Route 9D to aid this rescue. Many of these folks are volunteers. I’m glad lives were saved, but what a complete waste of resources — all because some knuckleheads chose to ignore the multiple no-swimming signs.
We should be discouraging swimming in the Hudson off the shoreline; otherwise, we are incentivizing moral hazards, risking more waste and, most important, endangering first responders. [via Facebook]
Instead of a warning, let’s put up a large sign with photos of all the swimmers who didn’t obey the no-swimming sign and are now corpses. [via Facebook]
Here is another instance where the coordinated efforts of State Parks, Scenic Hudson, the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail and private citizens can and likely will improve safe access to the river. Go HHFT! A swimming program at Little Stony Point with barrier ropes and a supervisor would do a great deal to improve safety. Ever see the River Pool in Beacon? No reason why a larger version at Little Stony Point wouldn’t work. [via Facebook]
A river pool at Little Stony Point would give people a safer option for swimming in the river, which some folks obviously already do despite the fact it is prohibited at the park. But it’s been removed from the Fjord Trail plan and won’t be reconsidered until the main trail is complete, and then only if it is deemed helpful to visitation management and/or is actively requested by the community. [via Facebook]
Martin is the director of development and community engagement for the Fjord Trail.
All in this is one heck of a rescue. Multiple swimmers in trouble, exhaustion, strong Hudson currents. It’s a wonderful life, Evan.