‘Humble Heroes’ In Belleville Rescue Man, 81, From Ida Floods

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Although the devastating floods that came with Hurricane Ida tragically caused several deaths in Essex County, they also inspired a wave of heroic deeds from people who stepped up to protect their neighbors. And one of them took place in Belleville, officials say.

On Tuesday, Belleville officials plan to recognize two local residents who saved an 81-year-old man from drowning in surging flood waters.

According to officials, Samuel Fontanez and Ivan Mancheno rushed from their homes to save Rocco Cicchetti, 81, after he slipped under the knee-high waters and couldn’t get to his feet.

Fontanez and Mancheno — who are neighbors and close friends — grabbed Cicchetti out of the water and carried him to the safety of some nearby steps so he could regain his breath. The pair then walked Cicchetti to his home on Fairway Avenue amid the drenching rain.

According to town officials, the frightening incident took place as Cicchetti, a grandfather of two, was returning home after working his shift at the deli counter of a supermarket in Nutley. In the darkness of the night, Cicchetti misjudged how deep the waters had already become on Continental Avenue. When his car stalled, he decided to try to wade through the water.

But when Cicchetti opened the car door, water rushed into his vehicle.

“Each time a car would pass, it would create a little wave,” he said. “That would knock me down. I would get up, but then another wave would knock me down again. Finally, I just didn’t have the strength to get up and I found myself with my head under the water.”

Luckily, Fontanez and Mancheno came to the rescue.

“They were truly lifesavers,” said Cicchetti’s daughter, Gia Stansci. “If they weren't there, he would have definitely drowned because of the force of the water. Being that he's older, he couldn’t get himself up. He went under like three times. Then he wasn’t able to get up.”

“I truly believe that it was because of those two guys that my dad is still with us today,” she added. “They saved his life.”

Fontanez and Mancheno offered humble thanks that Cicchetti made it safely home to his family.

Fontanez, who has lived in Belleville for about 20 years, recalled the moment that he and Mancheno lifted the struggling senior out of the turbulent waters.

“We’re trying to get him to safety, and he’s saying stuff like, ‘You guys saved my life,’” Fontanez remembered. “We just wanted to get to safety because we were both terrified. If a transformer blew and a wire fell down into the water, that would have been a dangerous situation.”

“I’m happy that Mr. Cicchietti is safe,” said Mancheno, who has lived in town for 25 years. “Really, though, I was just doing what I hope someone would do for me if I were in that situation.”

Most people would have called it a night from that point. But their good deeds weren’t done.

After the flood waters subsided the next day, Mancheno managed to find Cicchetti’s car keys. They had come to rest several blocks away, having been whisked away by the rushing water the night before. A short time later, he also located Cicchetti’s dentures, which had fallen out when he fell in the water.

Mayor Michael Melham praised the two, calling them “humble heroes.”

“We heard about many acts of kindness, of neighbor caring for neighbor as the remnants of Hurricane Ida hit Belleville,” Melham said. “What these two humble heroes did went well beyond being a good neighbor. They are life-savers and the township is eager to recognize them.”

• See related article: Daring Flood Rescue In Livingston Makes Cops, Firefighters Proud
• See related article: Bridgewater UPS Driver Saves 8 In Flooded Waters On Rt. 22 (VIDEO)

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