Firefighter Dies After Getting Pulled From Icy Delaware River

CAMDEN, NJ — A Camden firefighter has died after falling into the icy Delaware River on Thursday in Camden, officials confirmed.

The firefighter fell into the river near the Wiggins Park Marina around 11 a.m. while conducting a routine maintenance check of the Camden Fire Department's fire boat, according to city officials.

He was brought to the hospital and pronounced dead in the early afternoon.

"The city’s prayers are with the family," Camden Mayor Victor G. Carstarphen said at a news conference, "because he wasn’t just a public servant. He was a husband, a brother, a father that committed his adult life to serving and protecting and being there for our residents."

The firefighter's name was withheld, as officials are still in the process of informing his family and giving them time to grieve, said Camden Fire Chief Jesse Flax.

"That’s what’s unfortunate about things happening so fast," Flax said.

It's unclear what caused the incident, which is under investigation, Flax said.

Camden firefighters and crews from neighboring fire departments, including Philadelphia's, responded to the scene in a "split second," Flax said.

The firefighter was in the water for about 30 minutes.

He was conducting maintenance on a boat used to fight offshore fires.

Several South Jersey fire departments have expressed their condolences.

"The officers and members of the Delran Fire Department send our thoughts and prayers to the members, family, and friends of the Camden Fire Department after hearing of today’s incident," the Delran Fire Department said on social media.

Firefighters around the region have been conducting ice-rescue trainings on frozen rivers and lakes throughout the winter — especially during this recent stretch of extreme cold. The general public is advised to never walk or skate on icy bodies of water.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.