On March 27 2010 in the mid morning Stations 40 and 41 as well as Squad 35 were requested for their water rescue unit to respond to the manasquan river, for a reported swimmer in distress. First arriving patrol units found a capsized canoe and multiple victims in the water drifting towards the mouth of the Point Pleasant Canal. Three victims were able to make it to shore, the fourth was missing.

    Squad 35, Station 41 and Station 40 dive team members responded to station 40 and placed Dive Van 4006 into service. Fire Boat 4016 began responding as well. Units from the NJ State Police Marine division and US Coast Guard were arriving on scene.

Dive Team command was established by Dive Captain Chuck Hilling, Ems Command was established by 2nd Sergeant Jim Garon and Fire Command was over seen by Chief's Dan Mulligan and Todd Sutphen.

     Several Fire/Ems divers were placed on the arriving state police boats and fire boats. Diver/Emt Ron Nikola was placed into the cold water and began a search off the River Front park dock near the mouth of the canal. Rigs 356 and 358 as well as truck 355 arrived on location. Rig 358 treated and transported one victim to ocean medical center for hypothermia. 356 staged and set up rehab for the water rescue personnel in service.

  Dive Team command requested Brielle Fire Department Dive Unit as well as Brick Township Underwater recovery unit. Both responded and provided valuable assistance.

    Dive Team Command and US Coast Guard did turn the search and rescue mission into a recovery operation. NJ State Police Dive Units arrived on location. All Fire and Ems dive team members were pulled from the water for rehab. NJ State Police/Us. Coast Guard brought in a side scan sonar unit.  During this time all ems units were cleared except for 358 which was remaining on location with State Police. 30 Minutes after placing the Sonar into service the victim was recovered by NJSP Divers and had succumbed to the frigid waters.. The victim was transported by the crew of 358 to a local hospital.

EMS command was then terminated.

Fire and Ems units staging

Emt Gaudette getting suited up

Lt. John Miller(Station 41) line tending for Emt/Diver Rob Nikola

US Coast Guard Helo conducting arial search

FF/Diver Kevin Fennessy(Orange) on NJSP Boat assisitng in search