Child Rescued From Lake Hopatcong Now Awake And Talking, Fire Department Says

HOPATCONG, NJ — On July 3, it seemed like the worst possible scenario: a seven year-old boy visiting Lake Hopatcong with his mother went missing. After a desperate search by Hopatcong Fire Department members, Nicholas was found at the bottom of the lake.

Fire fighters pulled Nicholas to shore, where they performed CPR until the police and EMT could help air lift him to Morristown Medical Center.

For four days, Nicholas was in a medically induced coma. Now, thanks to close medical care, Nicholas is awake and breathing on his own, Fire Chief Esad Steve Kucevic wrote on Facebook Sunday afternoon.

"Not only is Nicholas breathing on his own, but while visiting him last night, he was even asking for watermelon and strawberries!" Kucevic said.

"Nicholas’ family and I would like to thank HFD first responders, Alex Rodriquez, John O’Connell and Tom Brown, along with Andrea Polke-Rodriguez and the Hopatcong Police/EMT responders for their extraordinary assistance," he continued.

The department is hopeful Nicholas will make a full recovery soon, and he and his family are invited to the annual HFP picnic this Saturday.

Image via Terry Ballard, Flickr