Christmas Day Rescue: Cross-Country Skier Falls Through Lake In Wayne

WAYNE, NJ — Wayne first responders jumped into action Wednesday after a cross-country skier fell through the ice at Pines Lake, according to officials.

The man had been trying to cross the lake on Christmas morning, and was in the water for an unknown amount of time before rescuers arrived. Fire Commissioner Frank Velardi said the man had a life jacket on, which likely saved his life.

A nearby resident happened to be looking out of their window when the man fell in and called 911 at around 9:20 a.m., Velardi told Patch.

"Between him having the vest on and having someone see him, he was fortunate," Velardi said. "He was far enough off-shore that people may not have been able to hear him call for help."

Members of the township Special Response Team arrived on scene, along with Wayne Police, Fire Companies 3, 4, and 5, and the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad.

Velardi estimated that the man was about 100 yards off-shore, and said that hypothermia was a concern for both the stranded skier and the volunteer first responders.

Members of the Special Response Team geared up and used special rescue sleds to reach the man, Velardi said. Though the ice was thin, the sleds distributed their weight evenly enough, and first responders on shore helped haul him in.

Paramedics helped warm the skier up to prevent hypothermia, and took him to the hospital.

The man's injuries were not thought to be life-threatening and none of the emergency responders were injured, Velardi said.