Captain John J. Drennan Memorial Medal

Firefighter Michael Mazziotti Ladder Company 101

September 15, 2005, 1941 hours, Box 1336, Gowanus Canal, below the northwest corner of the Hamilton Avenue bridge, Brooklyn

Appointed to the FDNY on October 28, 2001. Grandfather, Salvatore Mazziotti, retired from the Department in 1982. Attended New York University. Recipient of a unit citation and a Service Rating A. Resides in Staten Island.

New York’s Bravest do so much more than just extinguish fires. Firefighters respond to a variety of other emergencies, including water rescues. On September 15, 2005, at 1941 hours, Ladder 101, “the Red Hook Raiders,” received a radio alarm for a confirmed person in the water.

Arriving at the site--the Gowanus Canal, below the northwest corner of the Hamilton Avenue bridge--the Officer of Engine 279 informed Ladder 101 of the victim’s location and stated that he was just speaking with the 51-year-old male, who was refusing all attempts to save his life. The Gowanus Canal is a deepwater canal approximately 250 feet wide and is used to supply a variety of industrial properties by barge.

Lieutenant Peter Acquafredda, the Officer of Ladder 101, sized up the victim’s location, topography and current in the canal. The victim, Mr. Pinto, was floating approximately 60 feet from the bulkhead of the canal, between the bridge abutment and a large three-pile fender.

FF Michael Mazziotti donned the Stearns Immersion suit as the other members of Ladder 101 positioned ladders from the road to the point of operation. Three ladders were needed to reach the water. A 24-foot portable ladder was placed from the roadway to the gravel pile; a 20-foot portable hook ladder was placed from the gravel pile to the bulkhead; and a 12-foot portable hook ladder was placed from the bulkhead ledge to the water. The third ladder was set straight down into the canal. The bulkhead ledge where this ladder was placed was adjacent to a large, loosely tethered gravel barge. The barge’s loose mooring allowed it to swing 20 feet in each direction, which made this area of entry into the water extremely precarious.

As soon as FF Mazziotti was secured with a safety line, he began to climb down the hook ladder into the canal. Since the ladder was directly against the wall of the bulkhead, FF Mazziotti had to enter the water without the benefit of swim fins, making it more difficult to swim across the canal in the bulky suit.

FF Mazziotti swam across the choppy waters to the victim’s location. He squeezed between the abutment and the fenders and was able to extricate Mr. Pinto, who was face down in the water. The rescuer quickly assessed the victim and determined that he was unconscious. He cradled his head out of the water. FF Mazziotti gave the signal to be pulled back to shore. 

The members on the bulkhead ledge were able to pull FF Mazziotti and Mr. Pinto back to the ladder. Reaching the ladder, FF Mazziotti held Mr. Pinto--who weighed approximately 180 pounds--out of the water, while tubular webbing was secured around his chest. As the members on the bulkhead were preparing to remove the victim from the water, the 650-cubic-yard barge surged toward rescuer and victim, threatening to crush them.

FF Mazziotti held his position and assisted the members on the bulkhead by pushing Mr. Pinto up the ladder from below. When Mr. Pinto was safely out of the water, FF Mazziotti was able to escape the barge by quickly swimming back into the canal.

As soon as the victim was on the ledge, the members began CPR. The initial assessment indicated that he had a pulse, but was not breathing. After FF Mazziotti climbed out of the canal, he assisted the other members in securing Mr. Pinto in the Stokes basket and hoisting the victim to waiting EMS personnel. Mr. Pinto was transported to Long Island College Hospital. FF Mazziotti was treated for exposure and vomiting.

For his actions, which were in the finest traditions of the FDNY, FF Michael Mazziotti is being honored today with the Captain John J. Drennan Memorial Medal.—NG

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