FDNY Firefighter Turns Hassleoff in Water Rescue

Sept. 15, 2014
He stripped down to his shorts and swam a quarter-mile to rescue the kayaker.

It’s “Baywatch” Staten Island.

A firefighter made a TV-style rescue when he stripped down to his shorts and ran into the water to save a kayaker who had capsized off Staten Island Sunday evening.

Firefighter Mike Brody, 43, of Ladder 76, channeled his inner Hasselhoff as he swam about a quarter-mile offshore to reach the man in Prince’s Bay at around 5 p.m., FDNY officials said.

The 19-year FDNY vet handed the kayaker a life-preserver and stayed with him until an NYPD boat arrived and pulled the man aboard.

“It was just a little bit of a long swim,” Brody said. “But he was being calm, which was great.”

When asked if he had ever performed a rescue like that before, the modest FDNY hero replied, “No, I thought that was just on ‘Baywatch.’ ”

The victim, who had been fishing when his boat began to take on water, and Brody both refused medical attention once they were brought back to dry land.

“I’m glad the boats did show up because it would have been a little rough coming back in. There was a bit of a current,” said Brody, adding that he was only a little tired after the swim.

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