HILLSDALE—Two public works employees were recognized for “courageous and lifesaving actions” that both took to help pull a Hazelwood Avenue man to safety in late May after he entered Pascack Brook’s swift currents and was swept downstream under the Patterson Street bridge.
At the June 14 Borough Council meeting, DPW employees Raymond DeGroat and Stephen Cooke received official thanks and were presented “Life Saving Awards” by Mayor John Ruocco.
Although the workers warned the local man, 42, not to enter the stream with a boogie board (the water was already running high due to storms on May 28) he entered the brook nonetheless — and quickly disappeared, recounted Ruocco.
DeGroat and Cooke, on site at the Hillsdale Library monitoring the rising brook due to prior heavy rains, were able to haul the man from the brook near the Domani Ristorante parking lot, preventing him from being swept further away, said Ruocco.
Fortunately, the man was not seriously injured, officials reported.
The 5-inch by 7-inch plaques presented to DeGroat and Cooke read: “In recognition of your courageous and lifesaving actions that occurred on May 28, 2022. You put yourself in harm’s way to save another human life with dedication and courage.”