{"id":15503,"date":"2018-01-02T12:30:32","date_gmt":"2018-01-02T17:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/georgiaarsoncontrol.org\/?p=15503"},"modified":"2018-01-02T12:30:45","modified_gmt":"2018-01-02T17:30:45","slug":"hero-paramedic-jumps-into-freezing-hudson-to-save-mans-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/georgiaarsoncontrol.org\/?p=15503","title":{"rendered":"Paramedic jumps into freezing Hudson to save man\u2019s life"},"content":{"rendered":"

(<\/a>nypost) \u2013\u00a0A heroic FDNY paramedic plunged into freezing waters to rescue a man in the Hudson on Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Niall O\u2019Shaughnessy, 40, a veteran paramedic with the department, was working with his partner Minze Wu along the West Side Highway around 2:50 p.m. when he noticed some NYPD units going into the river at Harrison and West Streets \u2014 and realized they might need help.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grabbed my personal flotation device and ran over to where the NYPD was,\u201d O\u2019Shaughnessy recalled.<\/p>\n

He kicked off his boots and removed his radio before jumping in.<\/p>\n

The NYPD had already lowered a life preserver to the man, but the helpless victim was unable to hold it, the paramedic said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI used my body to pull him around the life ring,\u201d O\u2019Shaughnessy said, adding he spent about 5 to 10 minutes in the icy water.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first two seconds in, I felt the cold set in,\u201d he said. \u201cAfter about 30 seconds to a minute I could definitely feel that my arms and legs weren\u2019t working.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man had started to lose consciousness, O\u2019Shaughnessy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was definitely lethargic,\u201d the paramedic said. \u201cHe was definitely hypothermic. He had difficulty speaking and holding onto the ring. I was behind him holding onto him on the life ring.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fast-responding firefighters lowered a ladder to O\u2019Shaughnessy to bring him and the 50-year-old victim back up to land.<\/p>\n