Child Falls Through Ice In Teaneck, Is Saved By Fire Captain

TEANECK, NJ — An off-duty Teaneck fire captain who was walking to his daughter's school managed to save a child who fell through the ice last week, the department said.

Fire Captain Christopher Connolly was headed to his daughter’s school on Wednesday when he "heard the sound of someone falling through ice," according to a social media post by the department.

Connolly found a child who was "almost fully submerged" and hanging onto an ice shelf, the department said.

Friends were trying to pull the child out, but could not.

Connolly "quickly assessed the situation, made the scene safe to ensure there were no additional victims and removed the submerged child," the department posted.

He called 911 and gave the child first aid while awaiting for the ambulance.

"Chief [Joseph] Berchtold and the department are proud of Captain Connolly for his quick actions in helping this child," the department posted.

"Amazing courage!," wrote a woman on the Department's social media page. "Something to be really proud of! God put you in the right place at the right time."

Bergen County endured temperatures below freezing all of last week. This week, temperatures will be in the 30s. See the forecast here.

Read more about the Fire Department here.