Fast-acting family saves Putnam Valley man who fell through ice

A fast-acting family made a dramatic ice rescue in Putnam County Wednesday night.

News 12 Staff

Jan 25, 2019, 1:50 AM

Updated 2,247 days ago

Share:

A fast-acting family made a dramatic ice rescue in Putnam County Wednesday night.
Brendan Foran was riding his all-terrain vehicle on Oscawana Lake in Putnam Valley when he fell through the ice and found himself trapped. Bruce Kuttruf heard his cry and saw a head bobbing out of the water from 50 feet away.
Bruce, his wife Jennifer and their 14-year-old son Zack, who's a Boy Scout and sheriff's cadet, sprung into action.
Zack used his Scout training to direct first responders down the dark, dirt roads where his parents were using an electrical cord to try to pull out Foran.
"First thing I was saying was don't panic. Because as soon as you panic, seconds go by and that guy could be under the water and not coming back up," says Zack Kuttruf.
Their combine efforts helped crews find Foran, pull him out and rush him to a hospital. He says he is lucky to be alive.
Both first responders and the Kuttruf family say they are shocked by Zack's abilities to respond in crisis.
"My son was awesome. He did not panic. He is 14 and he was able to do the job of a man," says Bruce Kuttruf.
First responders say there are two lessons to this story: stay off ice and always be prepared.