Ocean County Man, Using His Cell Phone Light, Gets Rescued After Getting Stuck In Marsh

A Lacey man used the light of his cell phone to help police rescue him Friday after he was stuck in the marsh, police said.

The man, 22-year-old Jason Drackwicz of Ashwood Place in Forked River, was able to utilize the light on his cell phone to alert police.

At 9:24 p.m., the Lacey Township Police Department received a 911 call from a resident of Preble Drive in Forked River saying they heard someone in the water yelling for help, police said.

Officers responded to search the area of Stouts Creek, and within approximately 30 minutes after arriving to the area, Officer Michael Verwey located the individual.

At that time, it was verified that the subject was not submerged in the water but was actually physically stuck in the marsh and unable to get himself out. At that point, the man indicated that he had a leg injury and could not move, police said.

It was later discovered that the injury was an existing injury, and the man needed assistance to walk, police said.

Additional emergency services were requested which included the Lacey Township Underwater Rescue & Recovery (URR) Team, Lanoka Harbor Fire Department, Lanoka Harbor First Aid Squad, United States Coast Guard Search and Rescue vessel, and the NJSP Aviation Hoist Unit.

Drackwicz was found in an area of wet marsh on the north side of the South Branch of Stouts Creek.

According to police:

Androcy responded to Bayside East Parkway which is a short distance west from the specific location. Based on the location description provided by Verwey, ndrocy entered the wooded area along the northeast portion of Bayside East Parkway and walked approximately three quarters of a mile until he foundDrackwicz.

Androcy found Drackwicz to be wet and cold with his legs stuck in the marsh. He was otherwise not physically injured from the incident. With Androcy’s assistance, Drackwicz was able to make his way close enough to the water way of Stouts Creek where the Lacey Township Underwater Rescue & Recovery (URR) boat met them for extraction.

Officer Androcy and the members of the Underwater Rescue & Recovery team were able to assist Jason Drackwicz into the boat.

The NJSP aviation unit helicopter was preparing to respond with a hoist crew that assembled in Berkley Township, but their services were cancelled once Drackwicz and Sndrocy were safe and aboard the rescue boat. Jason was examined by members of the Lanoka Harbor First Squad and was found to not be in need of emergency medical transport.

Drackwicz had apparently entered the wooded area behind the 7-11 convenience store located at 403 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor while it was still daylight. He walked deeper into the woods and eventually realized that he was lost as he continued to walk east.

Once darkness set in, he was unable to see and ultimately became stuck in the wet marsh mud. During the time period that Androcy was heading to Drackwicz’s location, Drackwicz’s girlfriend arrived on Bayside East Parkway looking for him.

She met with a firefighter along the roadway and was escorted to Richmond Drive. She said that Drackwicz had called her earlier from his cell phone and told her that he was lost after walking in the woods just before his cell phone signal was lost, police said.