Crime & Safety
UPDATE: Child Rescued From Hudson River In Hoboken
After heading into the river to get a soccer ball, the boy called for help. He was taken to Hoboken's hospital and reunited with his mother.
HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken emergency workers saved a child who wound up struggling in the Hudson River on Friday after he went into the water retrieve a soccer ball, according to police.
According to police, at around 1:07 p.m. Friday, the Police Department and Fire Department responded to Sinatra Park on a report of a male in the water.
They were told that a 14-year-old from West New York was playing soccer at Sinatra Park when his ball went into the water. The teen went into the water to retrieve his ball.
Find out what's happening in Hobokenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Hudson River near the Hoboken waterfront has a notoriously strong current, and numerous people have died or had to be rescued from the water over the years.
The boy was found behind the soccer field calling for help, police said.
Find out what's happening in Hobokenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Police Officer Elias Colon was first on the scene and heard the call for help, police said. Colon deployed his water rescue bag. The calls for help were heard coming from under the park.
Moments later the Hoboken Fire Department arrived on the scene and deployed a ladder off the railing. The teen was able to swim to the rescue bag and grab hold.
Officer Colon pulled the teen to the ladder. He climbed up and was pulled over the railing.
The teen was taken to Hoboken University Medical Center and reunited with his mother.
A social media post gave this account:
Hoboken Water Rescue Frank Sinatra Blvd - Child went to retrieve a ball in the water and was swept under the pier. Child was rescued. NYPD helicopter, US coast guard and Hoboken fire and police all on scene. pic.twitter.com/kJNQdmSCoD
— NorthJersey FireNews (@NJFires) July 30, 2021
Want updates on breaking news when it happens? You can sign up for occasional breaking news alerts like this one in Hoboken, or for a daily newsletter at 6 a.m. each morning with local news. Don't miss the stories your neighbors are talking about! Sign up with your preferences here.
Got news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. Got photos? Please include express written permission from the photographer for us to use them. To be the first to get free news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.