Netcong police and firefighters rescue three people from icy Lake Musconetcong

NETCONG — Three people were rescued from the ice of Lake Musconetcong by police on Sunday. 

When an officer arrived, there were people on the ice pointing in the direction of where a man had fallen through. It was later found out that a man had fallen off his motorcycle and then through the ice. 

Witnesses were at the scene to help point the police toward where the man had fallen through. As they were heading back to the shore, a man and woman had also fallen into the ice. 

Police found that a man had fallen through the ice about 40 yards from where the officer arrived. 

The officer made his way to the victim and tried to pull him from the water, according to the department's Facebook page. "After several failed attempts, Officer [Matt] Paonessa was able to retrieve a rope from Stanhope Police Officer Robert Popelka and pull [the man] from the water," the Facebook post said. 

Seconds after he was secured, a woman fell through the ice.

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Popelka was about 20 yards from her and was able to throw rope to the victim to hold. 

A few moments later, Assistant Fire Chief Raymond Bock Jr. from the Netcong Borough Fire Department and Capt. Derek Kuncken from Stanhope/Netcong First Aid Squad were able to assist in pulling her from the water and took her to shore.

The Netcong Fire Department and Stanhope/Netcong First Aid Squad jointly rescued the third victim using ice rescue equipment.

The equipment included ice rescue suits and a rescue sled. They used this equipment to make their way out to the initial victim who had fallen through the ice on his motorcycle.

The victim was about 300 yards from the shoreline. The Netcong Fire Department and Stanhope/Netcong First Aid Squad were then able to retrieve the third victim. Popelka, Paonessa and several other first responders pulled him from the icy water and took him to the shore.

All three victims were treated at the scene by the Stanhope/Netcong Ambulance Squad, Morris County EMS and medics from St. Clare’s Hospital. Two victims refused medical assistance and the third was taken to a nearby hospital.

Kristie Cattafi is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: cattafi@northjersey.com

Twitter: @KristieCattafi