Bayonne Firefighter Saves Woman Drowning Off Virginia Beach

BAYONNE, NJ — While he was on a training in Virginia Beach last week, this Bayonne firefighter ended up saving the life of a woman who was drowning, said the Bayonne Office of Emergency Management.

The firefighter is Matt Kemple, who is a captain in the Bayonne Fire Department. Last week, Kemple and three other Bayonne firefighters attended a marine firefighting training held in Norfolk/Virginia Beach, VA.

After the training session had ended one day, the New Jersey men were on the beach in Virginia Beach when they noticed a woman swimming in the ocean. She appeared to be in distress.

The woman was drifting further out to sea and struggling to keep her head above water.

Kemple instructed the other firefighters to go get help, then he swam out approximately 300 yards to rescue the woman.

For his actions, Kemple was awarded the Virginia Beach Fire Department Life-Saving Award and a Letter of Commendation from the United States Coast Guard.

The training was done to prepare Bayonne firefighters to handle emergencies on the various vessels that dock and/or sail through Bayonne’s waters.