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Drowned Firefighter Mark Batista 'Always Put Family First'
Mark Batista's family was his whole world.
Batista, a firefighter for the FDNY, died while trying to save his daughter from drowning on Friday, June 9. Batista, 39, went into the waters off the Sylvania Avenue beach around 8:30 a.m. in an effort to save her, when she got caught in the rough surf.
The girl was saved by rescuers but Batista's body wasn't found until nearly 10 a.m., and he was pronounced dead at the hospital, despite life-saving efforts, police said.
A fundraiser, organized by Engine 226 in Staten Island where Batista served, has been set up to assist his family, which i…
Teen Boy Drowns, 5 Others Rescued From Non-Guarded NJ Beach
A 15-year-old died and five others rescued from a non-lifeguarded beach at the Jersey Shore Sunday, May 28, officials said.
Responders arrived at Sandy Hook's Beach B, located in the Gateway National Park Area, around 4:30 p.m., park spokeswoman Daphne Yun tells Daily Voice.
Of the six pulled from the waters, one refused medical attention, one was sent to Jersey Shore Medical Center, and three were rushed to Monmouth Medical Center.
The teen boy, whose identity was not released as of Monday morning, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Gateway National Park's EMTs and officers …
Drowned North Jersey Fishermen Identified
Authorities have identified the two fishermen who drowned New Year's Weekend at Split Rock Reservoir.
The bodies of Stanislaw Grezesik, 64, of Clifton, and Tadeusz Florczuk, 76, of Passaic, went on the ice fishing trip at Split Rock Reservoir in Kinnelon on Friday, Dec. 30 — but never returned home, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said.
Family members called 911 on Dec. 31 at 2 p.m., and the fishermen's belongings were found on the shoreline at the reservoir — along with two holes in the ice approximately 100 yards from shore.
Grezesik's body was recovered Sunday,…
Nurse Details Attempted Rescue Of Jersey Shore Drowning Victim 'Way, Way Out'
At least three good Samaritans including an off-duty police officer, a nurse and a surfer helped try to rescue a drowning victim.
Dana Wolfanger of Wanaque tells Daily Voice she spotted a surfer trying to save Matthew Mauro, 46, on Wednesday, Sept. 14 off Ortley Beach. She then notice his body tossing in the strong currents "way, way out," she said.
"We were just sitting on the beach. We noticed people standing close to the shoreline," said Wolfanger, a nurse and former lifeguard.
The surfer spent about 10 minutes trying to swim this man into shore, but no one else was jumping in, Wol…