Lifesaving Teen, Cop Recognized by Township

It's a nightmare scenario every parent dreads: seeing your child lifeless at the bottom of a swimming pool.

But when a 9-year-old Montclair boy fell into a pool while his family was at a picnic with friends who live on Wertsville Road in July, two people stepped up to prevent the tragedy from unfolding.

Steven Gorski dove into the pool and pulled the child out of the water as soon as he realized what was happening, while Hillsborough Police Officer Chris Weckenman, off duty at the time, quickly administered CPR (initial reports also credited the boy's father with administering CPR).

Both are credited with saving the boy's life, and at the Township Committee meeting Tuesday, were presented with township proclamations recognizing their prompt actions.

"Steven serves as an example to the youth in our community through his heroism and willing ness to help others," the proclamation for him notes, while Ofc. Weckenman's adds he has received the police department's CPR award.

The proclamations were presented separately—we thought the story unfolds better when combined, so the video "mashed up" the proclamations to provide a different take on the presentations.