First responders with the FDNY and NYPD raced to rescue a drowning man in the Hudson River this morning only to discover that the cause of all the panic was more machine than man. Well, more wood than man, at least. DNAinfo reports that NY Waterways was conducting one of their weekly surprise drills during which inspectors board the ferry and toss a floating rescue dummy overboard without warning, to test the crew's response time. But apparently a concerned citizen saw this, assuming the drill was all too real, called it in.
Rescuers rushed to the pier at West 14th Street, but they were too late—the dummy was already being rescued. It's unclear whether the FDNY was informed about the drill in advance, but we guess it's better safe than sorry. And don't worry, NY Waterway spokesman Patrick Smith assures DNAinfo, "The dummy is in good condition."
