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A Putnam Valley man in his 50s was rescued in dangerous conditions after falling through the ice on his four-wheeled ATV on Lake Oscawana.
The incident took place around 7:19 p.m. Wednesday, when deputies were responding to a report of a male screaming for help, possibly out on the ice in Lake Oscawana in Putnam Valley.
One of the deputies, Jonathan Bradley was responding to the call when he was flagged down, in the area of Colemans Landing, by 14-year-old Zachary Kuttruf. Zachary, who is a Sheriff’s Cadet and Boy Scout, led Bradley to the area of the lake where 49-year-old Brendan Foran of Putnam Valley had fallen through the ice, the Sheriff's Office said.
Foran had been riding his ATV across the lake when the ice gave way and he and the ATV fell into the freezing waters. When Bradley arrived Foran had already been in the lake for 10 minutes and was clinging to a rock.
On the shore when Bradley arrived were Zachary’s parents Bruce and Jennifer Kuttruf, who live in the area. They were attempting to rescue Foran by throwing a garden hose out to him, however, the hose was not long enough to reach him.
Bradley, attempting to throw the hose from a closer vantage point, walked onto the ice. Unfortunately, the ice broke underneath his feet and he was unable to get closer, the department said.
Jennifer Kuttruf retrieved an extension cord from her home and threw the cord to Foran and Bradley with the assistance of all standing on the shore and they were able to pull the freezing man to shore.
By that time, Deputies Randel Hill, Kevin Radovich, and Anthony Tolve, along with EMS and the Putnam Valley Fire Department had arrived on the scene and assisted in getting the man safely out of the lake and then carried onto the awaiting ambulance.
Putnam Valley Fire Department Chief Larry Cobb Jr. said the condition made the rescue especially difficult. He advised that residents stay off the ice unless they are "positive" it is solid,
Mr. Foran was transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation and possible hypothermia.
Sgt. Thomas Lee of the Sheriff’s Department commented" “If not for the quick actions of Deputy Bradley, Brendan Foran could have died from this incident.”
Bradley however, gives most of the credit to the young Cadet and Boy Scout who led him to the distressed man.
Putnam County Sheriff Robert Langley also gave thanks and recognition to off-duty firefighter Jonathan Cummings who, along with Deputy Bradley and the Kutruff family played a crucial part in the rescue efforts. Cummings is a firefighter with the NYFD and a volunteer firefighter with the Putnam Valley Fire Department. Cummings was able to retrieve the extension cord from Kutruff.
He then made a “8 on a bight knot” on the end of the extension cord and threw it out to Foran. He then, along with Deputy Bradley, Zachary and Bruce Kuttruf pulled Foran to shore.”
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