Camden firefighter dies after falling into Delaware River and getting trapped under ice

A Camden firefighter died Thursday after getting trapped under ice and water in the Delaware River, according to the Camden mayor’s office.

The Professional Fire Fighters Association of New Jersey on thursday night identified the fallen first responder as Howard Bennett.

The firefighter was doing regular maintenance on a department fireboat near Wiggins Marina around 11:30 a.m. when he fell into the water and got stuck under the ice. He was trapped for about 30 minutes, Fire Department Chief Jesse Flax said at a news conference.

Bennett was removed from the water, given medical attention, taken to Cooper University Hospital, and declared dead.

“I do not have enough words that I can even say that could tell you how this is hurting all of us,” Flax said.

Camden Mayor Victor G. Carstarphen thanked the fallen firefighter for the sacrifices he made to serve the city.

“He wasn’t just a public servant,” Carstarphen said. “He was a husband. He was a brother, a father, that committed his adult life to serving and protecting and being there for our residents in the city.”

Pete Perez, the president of Local 788, a union that represents Camden firefighters, described Bennett as particularly skilled in boating.

“He was our guy for when it came to the boat stuff,” Perez said.

“I’m devastated to the core,” Perez added. “For first responders — police and fire — training, routine things, can be inherently dangerous and today, unfortunately, we learned that.”

Mathew Caliente, president of the Professional Fire Fighters Association of New Jersey, said in a statement:

“We are devastated by the loss of Brother Bennett who dedicated his life to protecting the residents of Camden. Our hearts, our prayers, and our full support are with his family, his friends, and the members of Camden City Firefighters Local 788 and Camden Fire Officers Local 2578 during this unimaginably difficult time.”