2 Rescued From Submerged Truck During Snowstorm: Stamford FD

STAMFORD, CT — Firefighters worked quickly to pull two people from a truck that went into the water in Stamford during the peak of Monday's snowstorm, according to fire officials.

In a news release, Deputy Chief Matt Palmer said the submerged vehicle was reported in the water near Cummings Park around 2 p.m., which Palmer noted was the "peak" of the snowstorm.

Firefighters found the vehicle, a four-door pickup truck, partially submerged and floating in the water approximately 40 feet from the shore, Palmer said. A woman standing in the back cargo area of the truck began yelling to firefighters about a man trapped inside the truck's submerged cab. (To sign up for Stamford breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

Editor's note: the following video compilation of the rescue was posted to the Stamford Fire Department's YouTube page. (credit: Stamford Fire Department)

"The extreme winds, snow and tide continued to move the vehicle and cause it to fill with water," Palmer said in the news release.

Three firefighters in cold-water rescue suits immediately swam out to the truck's location while one of the department's 100-foot tower ladder trucks was positioned as close to the water's edge as possible, Palmer said. The truck's aerial ladder was then extended out to the sinking vehicle so firefighters could remove the man and the woman from it.

Palmer said fire department scuba divers also began to set up for a rescue diving operation.

The firefighters in the water were ultimately able to calm the woman and assist her into the tower ladder, Palmer said.

"As weather conditions continued to deteriorate," Palmer said, "the vehicle continued to submerge deeper into the frigid waters of Long Island Sound."

Firefighters attempted to pull the man through the truck's small open rear window, but the size of the window made it "very challenging," Palmer said.

As firefighters continued working to remove the man from the vehicle, it became completely submerged. However, a firefighter holding onto the man's arm was ultimately able to pull him through the small window after the truck was completely under the water, Palmer said.

The man was then placed into the tower ladder and brought to shore along with the woman, Palmer said. The man was later taken to Stamford Hospital for further treatment, while the woman refused medical treatment.

Mayor David Martin commended firefighters for the rescue and said the city was fortunate to have "fearless firefighters" who are willing to plunge into freezing waters to save others.

"I applaud our public safety team for acting quickly to save the lives of members of our community," Martin said to Patch. "I'm certain these individuals didn't intend to end up in the water, but this is an important reminder that winter storms, or any storm, should be taken seriously. Stay indoors, stay off the roads and allow our crews time to clear the streets and keep the public safe."

Crews later helped remove the vehicle from the water. No firefighters were injured in the incident, which is under investigation by the Stamford Police Department, Palmer said.

Ted Jankowski, the city's director of public safety, also offered praise for the department's quick thinking and swift actions Monday.

"The Stamford Fire Department did an exceptional job in rescuing the two individuals from the icy waters," Jankowski said to Patch. "Because of their swift and deliberate actions, two lives were saved."