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NJ State Troopers Rescue Man Stuck in Swamp Near Turnpike

Emergency responders rescued a man who was stuck waist deep in a marshy area near the New Jersey Turnpike in Elizabeth in the early hours of Saturday, March 17. Dashcam video released by New Jersey State Police shows the scene and eventual rescue.

State Trooper Victor Rios observed a man standing next to his car on the shoulder of the highway at about 4:40am and stopped to see if the man needed help, police said. The driver told the trooper his cousin got stuck in the swamp adjacent to the highway after he tried to walk through the area to rescue a friend whose car was stuck on the other side, according to police. The victim’s feet got stuck in the mud and he was unable to move.

With Trooper Reinaldo Cruz, Rios attempted to use a large branch to reach the victim, but, due to the cold temperature of the water, the man was too weak to hold onto the limb and lost his grip, police said. Other troopers arrived and created a human chain to rescue the victim, but they were unsuccessful because the man was too far from the road.

Finally, Trooper Renato Antunese used a lifeguard rescue apparatus with its flotation device to pull the man to safety.

The victim had started exhibiting signs of hypothermia by the time troopers rescued him. He was taken to an area hospital where he was treated and released. Credit: New Jersey State Police via Storyful