Teenage Girl Rescued From Frozen River In Port Jervis

PORT JERVIS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A teenage girl was rescued Tuesday after falling into the icy Neversink River in Port Jervis, Orange County while trying to retrieve her cellphone.

Around 10:20 a.m., Port Jervis police and fire crews were sent to a site on North Maple Avenue in Port Jervis after reports that someone had fallen through the ice in the river.

Port Jervis Officer Michael Decker arrived within three minutes, and found the 18-year-old – identified as Alessandra Maida – in the river behind her home. She had gotten her leg stuck in the broken ice about 20 feet from the shoreline, police said.

Decker climbed down the embankment and used a rescue disk flotation device in an effort to save Maida, police said.

Port Jervis fire Deputy Chief James Rohner joined Decker and supplied a rescue rope, police said. Decker reached Maida with the rope and brought her to shore, police said.

Maida was taken to Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis for treatment, police said.