Police says man jumps into Hudson River on a dare

Hoboken Police Chief Kenneth Ferrante tells NJ.com that 22-year-old Damien Bziukiewicz jumped off the southern end of Pier A all because of a dare from his friends.

Several agencies responded to help the East Rutherford man when he began to struggle in the water.

Ferrante says police threw him a rope and the fire department lowered a ladder over the side of the pier so he could climb out.

The man was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

He's charged with violating an ordinance that bans swimming in waters abutting public parks.

It's unclear if Bziukiewicz has an attorney who could comment.