Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, September 23, 2010 OUR 120th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 38-2010 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com
[email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS Westfield Firefighter Saves Mother And Son from Point Pleasant Surf By BENJAMIN B. CORBIN published report, Raechel Fisher, 31, into the ocean. Mr. Cerchio was the Specially Written for The Westfield Leader of Gloversville, N.Y. and her son, Zack, first on scene and went right out to help WESTFIELD – An off-duty had gone to the water’s edge so the boy the mother and son.” Westfield firefighter and Scotch Plains could wash the sand off his feet, but After reaching the victims, Mr. resident rescued a 10-year-old child they quickly were engulfed by strong Cerchio tried to talk to the mother and and the child’s mother Sunday in Point waves. child, but they were in shock. The boy Pleasant. Mr. Cerchio, a former athlete, teacher finally spoke and stated that he could Firefighter Louis N. Cerchio, III, 37, and coach, raced to the ocean, tossing swim, but his mother could not. With was with his wife and two children at his cell phone in the sand before enter- this information, Mr. Cerchio said, the beach, where he had once been a ing the water. His wife, Lisa, 32, re- “Everything will be okay. We will use lifeguard, when the incident occurred. trieved it and called 9-1-1. the waves to help us get in.” At around 12:25 p.m., he overheard a Point Pleasant Police Chief Kevin R.