Divers in the Water with FDNY Battalion Chief Thor Johannessen, Captain Frederick Ill and Firefighter Jacob Dutton

About this episode

This episode discusses a dramatic dive rescue by FDNY members in the Hudson River and the SCUBA program's operational aspects.

On the morning of November 12, 2023, FDNY members in Manhattan executed a dramatic dive rescue in the Hudson River. As initial FDNY units arrived, a witness reported that a man had climbed over the railing and fallen backward into the water. After a brief struggle, he disappeared beneath the surface. Within moments, FDNY surface swimmers and a SCUBA diver entered the river and located the victim 15 feet below. In this episode of the FDNY Pro Podcast, host Battalion Chief Jason Cascone speaks with Firefighter Jacob Dutton—the SCUBA diver involved in the operation—along with Captain Frederick Ill and Battalion Chief Thor Johannessen. All three are veteran rescue divers from FDNY Special Operations Command. They discuss the FDNY SCUBA program in depth, including the decision-making process for operationalizing a dive, the specialized equipment used by the Department and the extensive training required for these high-risk water rescues.

People in this episode

Host: Jason Cascone

Guests: Thor Johannessen, Frederick Ill, Jacob Dutton

Topics covered

• dive rescue
• FDNY SCUBA program
• water rescues
• specialized equipment
• training
• decision-making

Keywords

• FDNY
• dive rescue
• SCUBA
• water rescue
• training
• equipment
• special operations

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: FDNY

Places: Hudson River

More episodes of FDNY Pro

• A Code Red at the Fire Academy with FDNY Paramedics Veronica Cruz and Nyla Page, and Lieutenants Stephen McGowan and Kevin Travis (Retired) · May 29, 2026 · 31 min
• HVAC and refrigerant challenges with FDNY Captains Chris Collier and Dan Gordon, Lt. James Pirot and fire code counsel, Kelly Carr · April 30, 2026 · 43 min
• Legacy of Bravery revisited with FDNY Firefighter Josephine Smith · March 27, 2026 · 48 min
• How hydroxocobalamin is saving lives on the fireground with FDNY Captain Joseph Spinelli · February 27, 2026 · 33 min
• In studio with FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore · January 30, 2026 · 38 min
• Season 10 Year in Review · December 19, 2025 · 30 min