file photo by Lourice Angie Photos LLC
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, a harrowing incident unfolded near Conimicut Point in Warwick on Sunday afternoon, when a father and son were electrocuted after their boat’s mast, mounted on a trailer, made contact with a power line on Dundas Avenue. The quick actions of two bystanders and local emergency responders ultimately saved their lives.
The incident occurred around 1:45 p.m. when Max Horkenbach, 24, noticed his father, Till Horkenbach, 55, of Ridgewood, NJ, had been electrocuted by the energized boat. In an attempt to rescue his father, Max also received an electric shock, causing both men to lose consciousness. According to a police report, Max later regained consciousness and saw his father convulsing on the ground, vomiting and unresponsive.
Desperate for help, Max ran into the street, where he caught the attention of two bystanders, Shane Wallerick and Zoe Mushkat. Without hesitation, the pair sprang into action. “They just started sprinting,” Max recounted, as reported by WPRI.
Wallerick and Mushkat, along with Max, immediately began administering chest compressions to Till, who was still unconscious. Mushkat, who is CPR certified, led the efforts while also coordinating with emergency services.
“This guy lived because there were guardian angels around,” said Leslie Derrig, a nearby resident who witnessed the incident. “I never thought about anybody happening, at that particular time, to walk by.”
When Warwick Fire Department rescuers arrived on the scene, they took over the life-saving efforts, continuing CPR on Till, who showed no signs of consciousness. “He was just bouncing along on the ground. There was nothing to him,” Derrig recalled, emphasizing the intensity of the situation. After half an hour of CPR and the use of a defibrillator, responders were finally able to detect a pulse.
Both Till and Max were rushed to Rhode Island Hospital. While Max was released shortly after, Till was admitted for further treatment. Thankfully, he has since been discharged and is recovering.
Reflecting on the incident, Wallerick expressed gratitude that they were able to save Till’s life. “I’m just grateful that this family has their dad still,” he told WPRI. “The son, I think, was the calmest out of all of us. It was very impressive.”
Derrig, who witnessed the rescue, praised the quick thinking and professionalism of Wallerick, Mushkat, and the first responders. She also emphasized the importance of CPR training, noting that it played a crucial role in saving Till’s life.
“It goes without saying that everyone who does not know CPR should get trained,” Derrig urged. “Those who have been trained, know to never give up and do not be afraid to give powerful compressions. What is the worst that can happen? Someone’s life could be saved.”
This near-tragic event serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of being prepared for emergencies and the life-saving potential of CPR training.
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When someone is electrocuted that means they have passed away. Electric shock is the correct term here.
The meaning of ELECTROCUTE is to kill or severely injure by electric shock.