Crime & Safety

Man On Motorcycle, Others Rescued From Icy NJ Lake By Police, Fire Dept., EMS (Photos)

Netcong and Stanhope first responders helped a motorcyclist and two other people on Sunday who fell through the ice into Lake Musconetcong.

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Jennifer Jean Miller, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
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Netcong and Stanhope police officers, along with Fire Department and EMS members, pull a man out of icy Lake Musconetcong on Sunday. He fell through with his motorcycle. (Courtesy of Shannon Bock/Netcong Fire Department)
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First responders from Netcong and Stanhope help a woman out of Lake Musconetcong on Sunday. She fell through after pointing rescuers to a man who plunged into the lake on his motorcycle. (Courtesy of Shannon Bock/Netcong Fire Department)
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Netcong and Stanhope first responders wear special rescue suits Sunday to help remove a person who fell into the lake. (Courtesy of Shannon Bock/Netcong Fire Department)
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A police officer and member of the rescue team pull a man to safety who had fallen through the ice into Lake Musconetcong. (Courtesy of Shannon Bock/Netcong Fire Department)
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Members of the Netcong and Stanhope fire departments and First Aid Squads head onto frozen Lake Musconetcong with a sled to rescue one of three people who fell through the ice Sunday. (Courtesy of Netcong Fire Department)
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An unidentified first responder wears a special suit to withstand icy Lake Musconetcong on Sunday while rescuing three people who fell through the ice. (Courtesy of Netcong Fire Department)

NETCONG, NJ — Netcong and Stanhope first responders on Sunday helped a motorcyclist and two other people who fell through the ice into Lake Musconetcong.

James Best, Emma Ike and Rodrigo Oborski were successfully pulled from the frozen lake by first responders and are safe.

Following their rescue, two of the people declined medical treatment and one was taken to a nearby hospital, according to the Netcong Police Department. Netcong Police Chief Russ Van Houten said he was not able to identify who was taken to the hospital or the person's condition.

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“Everyone worked collectively for a positive outcome, and I am happy all three victims were rescued safely,” Netcong Borough Fire Department’s Assistant Chief Ray Bock said in a statement to Patch.

Netcong Police received a call at 4:56 p.m. Sunday about a vehicle and person who plunged into the icy lake.

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People at the scene pointed first responders to Oborski, who had fallen through the ice with his motorcycle about 300 yards from shore.

After police directed a small group of people standing on the ice to head back to land, Best - located about 40 yards from one of the officers - was the second person to fall through the ice.

Officers made several attempts to rescue Best. One Stanhope Police officer had a rope, which officers were then able to use to extricate him, Netcong police said.

After Best was pulled to safety, Ike fell through the ice about 20 yards from one of the officers.

Police officers, Netcong Fire Department and First Aid Squad members teamed up to pull Ike from the frozen lake with the same rope used to retrieve Best.

The Netcong Fire Department and First Aid Squad used ice equipment, including rescue suits and a sled, to pull Oborski safely from the frigid waters about 300 yards into the lake.

Stanhope/Netcong Ambulance Squad members, Morris County EMS and St. Clare’s medics were there to provide medical services for Best, Ike and Oborski, according to a Netcong police news release.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.

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