Man Awarded For Life-Saving Rescue Of Girl, Her Mom From Sinking Jersey Shore Boat

BARNEGAT LIGHT, NJ — Robert J. Selfridge III was sitting at home eating dinner on Aug. 7, 2022 when he overheard a 911 broadcast saying that a four-year-old girl and her mother were trapped in the cabin of a capsized boat. He sprung into action and for this, he has been awarded the Carnegie Hero Medal, North America's highest honor for civilian heroism.

Selfridge, known as "Bobby," is a member of the Barnegat Light Volunteer Fire Company, an EMT and a lifeguard. Chief Fred Grimste presented Selfridge with the award and shared the news in a recent social media post.

Nearly two years ago, four-year-old Ryleigh Krause and her 26-year-old mother found themselves in their capsized boat in the cold Barnegat Inlet waters off Island Beach State Park, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission said in a news release. They only had an 18-inch air pocket.

Selfridge, 58, hearing the 911 broadcast on his cellphone, interrupted dinner and responded on a Jet-Ski-type personal watercraft with other rescuers and tried to help right the 23-foot-long boat using towboat lines.

This effort proved fruitless, and as it grew darker and the air pocket diminished, Selfridge borrowed a mask and dived under the gunwale of the capsized boat and into the submerged compartment where the girl and her mom were.

Swimming through dim light around broken railings and debris, Selfridge grabbed the young girl, kicked off the roof of the boat and down into the dark water, emerging on the surface on the other side of the boat. Her mom immediately followed and swam out to the rear of the boat.

Rescuers took the two to waiting Coast Guards boats. Both were cold, but recovered without treatment. Selfridge broke a finger in the rescue, but otherwise was unhurt.

Selfridge is not the only one to be honored for this rescue. Sea Tow Central Jersey, based in Waretown, was awarded by its company for its involvement in saving the two.

"Bobby is the epitome of a first responder," Barnegat Light firefighters said. "He is our training officer and is constantly training the next generation of firefighters, EMTs, and lifeguards. We are thankful to have him as a dedicated member of our fire company, and our community."

The Carnegie Medal is given throughout the U.S. and Canada to those who enter extreme danger while saving or attempting to save the lives of others. Each honoree also receives a financial grant.