Three men were enjoying a morning of fishing on Beach Creek in North Wildwood, New Jersey, on May 31 when they noticed an overturned kayak nearby.
Moving closer to investigate, they discovered a man facedown in the water next to the boat. The men jumped into action to save the kayaker’s life, pulling him from the frigid water and rushing him to shore.
‘You are heroes’
78-year-old Martin Werynski ended up in the water after the wake of a motorboat flipped his kayak. He then became trapped beneath his boat, according to the City of North Wildwood.
The city’s mayor Salvatore Zampirri said the incident could have been deadly if anglers Joseph Trinacria, John D. Iacaruso and his son, John F. Iacaruso, had not been nearby. At a recent city council meeting, the three anglers were recognized by the city and thanked by Werynski directly.
“You are heroes,” Werynski said in a video shared by the Cape May County Herald. “You were simply out on the water, enjoying your day, yet you made the choice that became the reason I’m standing here today.”
According to Trinacria, as soon as the anglers realized what was happening, the younger Iacaruso was ready to dive into the water to save Werynski.
“We were about 20 feet away. I was holding him back by his belt,” Trinacria said in an interview.
They pulled their boat closer to Werynski before jumping in the water to help get him onboard. They immediately began lifesaving efforts as they brought Werynski back to shore where he was rushed to the hospital in critical but stable condition.
A city proclamation recognizing the anglers’ heroic efforts reads: “Without hesitation, the boaters swiftly entered the water to provide lifesaving aid until the first responders arrived on scene.”
Werynski called the men’s actions courageous and selfless, thanking them for giving him a second chance at life.
“Every morning I wake up, every sunrise and sunset I get to see, every holiday I celebrate and every laugh I share with my family is a gift because of what you did that day,” Werynski said.
Rescue takeaways
In an interview, Trinacria notes that the water was cold on the day of the rescue. While air temperatures in North Wildwood are normally moderate or warm in May, water temperatures can remain very cold into the spring and early summer months. During his comments at the city council meeting, Werynski said the water was roughly 58°F/14°C the day he fell in.
The incident illustrates the importance of always preparing for and dressing for immersion. Bodies lose heat much faster when immersed in cold water than they do when dry. While a paddler might be confident in their abilities, immersion in cold water can quickly degrade a person’s cognitive abilities and motor skills. In water that is 60°F/16°C or colder, paddlers should wear a wetsuit or drysuit.
Werynski was paddling alone, making him very lucky that the three anglers were nearby when he capsized. Had they not found him when they did, the incident might have ended in tragedy. While always safest to paddle with a buddy, if you are solo paddling, it’s important to know how to self-rescue and to practice those skills before heading out on the water. If you’re not familiar with self-rescue techniques, consider taking a safety course from the American Canoe Association or another reputable source. Local paddling groups can also provide a great source of knowledge and friends to practice with.
The incident also highlights the importance of always wearing a personal flotation device (PFD). Even strong swimmers should wear a PFD at all times on the water. Should something unexpected happen and a paddler end up unconscious, PFDs provide critical support in helping paddlers stay afloat until they can be rescued.
