In Cambridge, Massachusetts, captains of a Boston “duck boat” conducted a daring rescue operation by saving a father and his son from the Charles River after the child fell into the water, followed by his father. The incident took place while the Boston Duck Tours boat was engaged in quarterly safety drills. Despite being in the middle of training, the crew sprang into action and successfully retrieved the pair from the river. The toddler was taken to a nearby hospital for a check-up as a precautionary measure by the Cambridge Fire Department.
Michael Rosario, one of the captains, expressed astonishment at the unfolding events, stating, “This is crazy. This is happening while we’re doing training. Now we’re doing a real-life rescue.” According to the Massachusetts State Police, the boy, who is under the age of 2, managed to surpass safety railings and fell into the river behind the Royal Sonesta, a waterfront hotel in Cambridge. His father reacted swiftly by leaping into the water after him.
Photographs captured the dramatic moment of both individuals in the water, with the father holding onto a rock face with one arm while supporting his son with the other. Rosario and co-captain Kevin O’Neill swiftly deployed a safety ring, maneuvered the boat close to the distressed duo, and lowered a ladder to facilitate their rescue. Following the successful retrieval, they navigated to the dock in Cambridge, where first responders were waiting to provide further assistance.
Tom Vigna, the director of marketing for Boston Duck Tours, expressed gratitude for being at the right place at the right time to help in the emergency rescue operation. The incident occurred on Aug. 19, 2024, and an update on Aug. 20, 2024, corrected the name of one of the boat’s co-captains as Kevin O’Neill, not Kevin O’Neil.
