Fair Lawn After-Hours Pool Trespassing Ends With Water Rescue for 23-Year-Old Man
An early morning trespassing incident at a public swimming pool in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, ended with emergency responders rescuing a 23-year-old man who became stranded in the water after entering the facility outside operating hours, according to local authorities.
The incident happened at around 3:45 a.m. on Sunday when police received a 911 call reporting a possible drowning at Memorial Pool and Spray Park. Officers and emergency crews quickly responded to the municipal pool to assess the situation.
When first responders arrived, they found the 23-year-old man, who is from Paterson, standing on a platform in the middle of the pool and unable to return safely to shore. Members of the Fair Lawn Heavy Rescue team launched a rescue boat and safely brought him back without injury.
Authorities said a 16-year-old girl, also from Paterson, had entered the pool area with the man after hours. She remained on land throughout the incident and was never in danger. Police confirmed that neither individual suffered any injuries during the rescue.
Following the incident, officers issued summonses to both the man and the teenage girl for being inside the park after it had closed. After receiving the summonses, both were released.
The Fair Lawn Police Department later addressed the unusual incident in a social media post, using humor to remind residents about the importance of following park rules. The department remarked that anyone choosing to trespass into the pool after hours should at least know how to swim. Officials also thanked the emergency responders whose quick actions helped bring the situation to a safe conclusion.
Memorial Pool and Spray Park is a municipal recreation facility owned and operated by the Borough of Fair Lawn through its Recreation Department. The pool is closed to the public after operating hours and is scheduled to close at 7 p.m. on weekends.
Authorities continue to remind residents that public recreation facilities are closed after designated hours for safety and security reasons. Entering these areas when they are closed can create unnecessary risks and may require emergency resources that could otherwise be responding to genuine emergencies.
Sources
- Fair Lawn Police Department
- Borough of Fair Lawn Recreation Department
