Ex-South Jersey Firefighter Saves 2 Who Fell Through Ice: Police

WAKEFIELD, NH — A retired Galloway firefighter and his wife are being praised by New Hampshire authorities after their quick actions helped save two young men who had fallen through ice into a frozen pond.

At about 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 29, police and firefighters in Wakefield, New Hampshire responded to a local pond after two young men had fallen through the thin ice, according to Police Chief Michael Fenton.

When authorities arrived, the two men had been pulled from the ice and were experiencing signs of hypothermia, Fenton said. They were treated on scene and taken to the hospital for further care.

Fenton thanked Rick and Deborah Wehrhan, who had heard the two men calling from help while they were at home.

"While Deborah was calling 911, Rick ran into action and towards the sounds of distress," Fenton said.

Rick Wehrhan saw that the two men had fallen through the ice on Charlie Fielding's Pond and quickly grabbed a ring buoy from his yard, Fenton said.

"With the buoy Rick was able to assist both young men from the freezing waters and get them ashore," Fenton said.

As a retired volunteer firefighter from the Germania Fire Company in Galloway, Rick Wehrhan's "training, background and quick thinking played a pivotal role in this successful ice water rescue," Fenton said.