Hoboken Police Rescue Man Swept Into River Getting Soccer Ball

HOBOKEN, NJ — The Hoboken police fished a man out of the Hudson River Sunday night after he was pulled in while trying to get a soccer ball in Frank Sinatra Park.

Police used a water bag — a piece of equipment with a rope attached — to pull him to safety, they said. The man was 24 and from Jersey City.

Police said that around 7:20 p.m. on Monday night, they were called to the area of the soccer field in the northern part of the park.

A crowd was forming near the water, police said. A witness told them that the man had been trying to retrieve a soccer ball from under the waterfront walkway. But they could no longer see him. They feared he was stuck in the water.

Det. Bret Globke and Sgt. Luke Zeszotarski "began to set a perimeter in an effort to control the growing crowd and provide space to the detectives," police said.

Police lowered the bag under the waterfront walkway and the man grabbed it, they said. He was pulled up the boat ramp near Ol' Blue Eyes Restaurant, police said. The Fire Department assisted him.

Police said, "The male stated he swallowed a lot of water and had no other complaints. As a precaution he was transported to a local hospital where his was later released."

Det. Sgt. William Collins, Detectives Luis Rodriguez and Bret Globke, Sgt. Zeszotarski, and Officer William Bullock assisted with the rescue.

The Hudson River's notoriously strong undertow has claimed several lives over the years, and police have rescued others. Last year, police had to rescue a man whom they said was intoxicated and had jumped in.

Last week, a NY Waterway ferry crew rescued another man en route to Hoboken.

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