Camden, New Jersey, firefighter who died after falling into icy Delaware River identified

A Camden, New Jersey, firefighter died after falling into the ice-covered Delaware River in the city Thursday.

Fire Chief Jesse Flax said the firefighter was attempting to board a boat at the Wiggins Park Marina for a routine maintenance check when he fell into the water, sparking the rescue effort.  

"The city of Camden's prayers are with the family, because he wasn't just a public servant, he was a husband, a brother, a father that committed his adult life to serving and protecting and being there for our residents in the city," Mayor Vic Carstarphen said in a news conference.

Flax identified the firefighter who died as Howard Bennett. He was 61 and leaves behind a wife, two children and plenty of firefighter friends.

Dozens of firefighters and first responders gathered outside Cooper Hospital in Camden Thursday night to pay respect to Bennett.

"That's the unity of the firefighters in this state and around the country," Matthew Caliente, the president of the Professional Fire Fighters Association of New Jersey, said. "We show up in the darkest moments to support our members."

Others at the hospital remembered Bennett as a family man and a tremendous firefighter.

"He was the guy that everybody could count on," David Hines, the vice president of the PFANJ, said. "If they needed something fixed in the firehouse, they had difficult times, he was the guy they counted on. The fireboat was his baby is what they tell us."

Multiple boats, including at least one from the Camden Fire Department, were on scene at around 11 a.m. after Bennett fell into the ice-covered Delaware River. Crews were cutting through ice and workers in life vests were in the water searching.

One first responder walked and crawled out on the ice when someone was spotted. That person and several others were able to pull Bennett from the river.  

After Bennett was pulled out of the water, crews brought him into an ambulance and took him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Someone could be seen giving him chest compressions. Bennett spent about 30 minutes under the ice, Flax said.

"They all were trying to save their fellow firefighter," Flax said.

Carstarphen said the city will be there to support Bennett's family and thanked the first responders who arrived at the scene, including some from neighboring departments.

"Times like this, you realize how fragile life is," Carstarphen said. "In times like this, the city, we come together."

Pete Perez, president of the Camden firefighters union, said Bennett was well-versed in boating.  

"Today the city of Camden lost a great firefighter, a brother, couldn't ask for a better person, and knowing him for the long time that I've known him here, he will sadly be missed. I'm devastated to the core," Perez said. "For first responders, police and fire, training, routine things can be inherently dangerous, and today, unfortunately, we learned that."

Perez said members of the union will have extra support available to them as they deal with this grief.

CBS News Philadelphia's NEXT Weather team says the water temperature near the rescue site was about 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the air temperature was 29 degrees at the time.

When temperatures are this low, hypothermia and loss of consciousness can happen in less than 10-15 minutes.

Ships have had to cut through ice for travel this week after days of frigid conditions caused the Delaware to ice over. On Wednesday, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said the ice has slowed down shipments of road salt that were being delivered to the city on a barge.

Flax said the last times a Camden firefighter died on duty were in 1991 and 2020. 

"He had a long career in the exact same fire station, which says a lot," Hines said. "I think that the city of Camden, as well as the firefighters, are definitely mourning tonight."

Bennett's name will be added to a memorial of fallen firefighters in Camden.

Funeral arrangements for Howard Bennett

The Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey shared funeral details for Bennett in a post on Facebook.

The funeral is scheduled for Wednesday at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden. Here's the schedule:

• 10:30 a.m.: Mustering of uniformed personnel
• 11 a.m.: Private family and friends viewing
• 12:20 p.m.: Camden Fire Department walk-through
• 12:30 p.m. Celebration of life

The post also includes a link for departments that wish to provide resources for the funeral.