N.J. Responder Critical Following Water Rescue Mishap

A 39-year-old New Jersey responder was critically injured Sunday morning while attempting to perform a water rescue during Hurricane Irene.

The volunteer with the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad is in critical condition after being pulled unconscious from the raging water, according to NJ.com.

He is being treated at University Medical Center at Princeton.

Members of the first aid squad were called to the area of Rosedale Road about 4 a.m. after there was a report of a car trapped in floodwater, the governor's office told reporters.

While approaching the car, two members of the squad's swift water rescue team realized the current was too strong and attempted to turn back. They became untethered from each other and one was carried downstream before being rescued, reports indicated. The car the two men tried to approach turned out to be empty, according to reports.

Earlier in the day, the governor announced that the rescue squad member had died. Later, however, the statement was rescinded.