May 4, 2004 -- Two Manhattan firefighters battled strong winds and driving rains - along with a victim who didn't want to be saved - in a dramatic rescue in the Hudson River last night.
Firefighters Joseph Stark and Jim Donovan, who are assigned to a fireboat, were in their station at West 12th Street and the river when they heard a commotion outside. They ran out and saw a man floundering in the water.
They dived into the choppy waters and swam to the victim.
"They were having a tough time," said Lt. James Ahern. "The man did not want to come out. He was struggling, fighting and combative."
At one point, the 39- year-old man broke away from them and went under. "They had to go back under and get him," said Ahern.
After a desperate 15 minute struggle, they finally forced the man into the 27-foot Boston whaler their colleagues had positioned to pick them up.
"They risked their life without a doubt," said Ahern. "They did a great job. . . They were well prepared."
Ahern said the man, identified later as Ricardo Gonzalez, either jumped or fell. It was not clear if he fought his rescuers because he wanted to commit suicide or if he just panicked.
The firefighters, who suffered from hypothermia, were treated at St. Vincent's Hospital. Gonzalez was taken to Bellevue.
