From left: Chris Lukenda, Valor Awards Committee Chairman and recording secretary for the New Jersey Fireman’s Mutual Benevolent Association; Firefighters Christopher Larcombe, Bradley Ladislaw, Terri DelVicario, and Ed Donnelly, NJ FMBA President
Three North Wildwood Firefighters were presented with the Bronze Medal of Valor Award during a ceremony hosted by the New Jersey State Firemen’s Benevolent Association (FMBA). Awarded once a year the medal is among the top honors in public safety for firefighters in New Jersey. Recipients are chosen out of many submissions based on stringent criteria. North Wildwood Firefighters Terri Delvicario, Christopher Larcombe and Bradley Ladislaw accepted their medals on behalf of North Wildwood FMBA Local 56 on April 26 in Edison, New Jersey at the annual ceremony event.
On the evening of Nov. 30, 2013 at approximately 5:03 p.m., North Wildwood Fire Department received a dispatch to Hereford Inlet for a subject who reportedly fell out of a boat. At the time, the air temperature high for that day was 42 degrees with the water temperature in the mid 40’s. The vehicle used for water emergency response was out of service on that day. Firefighter Ladislaw retrieved his personal wetsuit from his vehicle while Firefighter Larcombe quickly gathered additional water rescue equipment from the out of service vehicle. The group responded with engine 2 and EMS 293.
Upon arrival it was established that the victim had been in the water for some time with a local marine service company attempting to aid him.The victim had initiated a marine distress call when his sailboat began to sink in the inlet, possibly running aground. Fortunately observers from the seawall called 9-1-1 which prompted the Fire Department dispatch. A US Coast Guard helicopter was flying overhead upon their arrival which made establishing communications difficult due to noise. Additional Fire Department personnel responded upon hearing the initial dispatch. North Wildwood Volunteer Fire Police Officer Roy Burnham had been monitoring marine radio transmissions and arrived to provide valuable early information. Communications with the USCG helicopter were established, and personnel were staged at the most advantageous locations.
North Wildwood Fire Chief Jeffrey Cole and Anglesea Volunteer Fire Company Battalion Chief Walter Larcombe arrived on location and a command structure was established as was the exact location of the victim. On duty Firefighter Terri Delvicario who was the officer in charge of the platoon (OIC) spotted the victim through binoculars. He was hanging off the side of a small rescue raft struggling. Shortly after, he was pulled aboard the marine assistance company’s vessel. At that point a strategy was developed to bring the victim ashore for medical aid. The marine recovery vessel did not want to make the trip to the local marina which was over a mile away due to the patient’s condition and need for immediate medical aid.
After determining the life raft was aboard, it was decided that the quickest route would be for the rescuing vessel to approach the shore as close as possible. Firefighter Ladislaw entered the water in his personal 3mm wetsuit which was totally inadequate to provide him the needed protection against the water temperatures. He also lacked gloves, boots and hood leaving vulnerable extremities exposed. He then assisted the victim into the raft before towing it back to shore in the frigid waters of the Inlet which were extremely rough at that time. He encountered difficulty in keeping the raft afloat due to the patient being anxious and suffering from hypothermia. Once close to the shore the victim exited the raft against Ladislaw’s commands causing the rescuer more difficulty.
Upon reaching the shore the patient was immediately covered and moved to the ambulance with assistance as he stated he could not take another step. Firefighters Delvicario, Larcombe and Mark Barham then began assisting the victim with emergency medical aid. He was then transported to Cape Regional Hospital in Cape May Court House. He stated after running aground he placed a MAYDAY call. Once the boat had sunk to waist high he had attempted to utilize his life raft but missed and landed in the water. He further stated that after falling into the water he did not have enough strength to pull himself into the raft. Later the same day NWFD EMTs encountered the patient after another unrelated transport and he stated he was recovering and was extremely grateful for the efforts of the responders.
Fire Chief Jeffery B. Cole, Sr. said, “I commend everyone for their professional response and dedication to serving North Wildwood’s citizens and visitors. This is but one example of the work they do to keep the public safe and I am proud to be a part of the team.”
CAPTION: From left: Chris Lukenda, Valor Awards Committee Chairman and recording secretary for the New Jersey Fireman’s Mutual Benevolent Association; Firefighters Christopher Larcombe, Bradley Ladislaw, Terri DelVicario, and Ed Donnelly, NJ FMBA President
