Firefighters rescue teens from icy river in Paterson

Two teens were rescued from the frozen Passaic River by Paterson firefighters Tuesday afternoon.

The rescue took place just after 3 p.m., when someone banged on the door of the fire department claiming two teenagers had just gone into the icy river. Firefighters rushed to the scene where they spotted the victims in the water, about 30 feet from the shore, NJ Advance Media reported.

Rescue workers tossed the teens a run buoy attached to rope as Fire Chief Brian Rathbone put on a life vest and walked onto the frozen water to assist the teens, but ended up falling through the ice as well. Crews then worked to pull the teens from the water and onto land.

The teens were conscious and alert and were transported to a nearby hospital where they were recovering Tuesday night, NJ Advance Media reported.

Deputy Chief William Henderson told NJ Advance Media that had the teens not been rescued quickly, "the current would have pulled them from that hole."

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor for news at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.