Fairfield Resident Lauded For Rescuing Woman From Icy Lake Mohegan

FAIRFIELD, CT — A Fairfield resident was recently given a Life Saving award for rescuing a woman who had fallen into icy Lake Mohegan in January.

Erik Rahner was walking his dogs at the lake on Jan. 7, when he heard screams for help coming from the water in the Cascades.

"Without hesitation, he ran toward the source of the calls, and found Alicja Rydza submerged up to her neck, clinging to the ice, unable to escape the freezing water," authorities wrote in a post on the Fairfield Police Department's Facebook page.

Instead of waiting for help to arrive, Rahner jumped into the icy water, swam to Rydza and pulled her out to safety.

"His quick thinking and decisive actions saved her life," officials said.

As a result, Rahner received the Fairfield Police Department Life Saving Award from the Board of Police Commissioners "for his bravery, selflessness, and willingness to put another's life before his own."

"His actions exemplify the very best of our community [and serve as] a reminder that true heroism is not measured by words, but the willingness to act when it matters most."