PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -- Steven Cromp, rescued from Lake Champlain on Wednesday morning by a City Police officer, remained hospitalized in critical condition at day's end.
An observer who was at the city boat launch off Dock Street saw a shirtless man near the Champlain Monument on Cumberland Avenue acting strangely and called police, according to City Police Capt. Michael Branch.
City police, fire and rescue crews responded to the call. Officer Chad Welch was the first to arrive.
"When I got to the area there, two ladies stopped me and said there was a man swimming naked by (the bank)," Welch told the Press-Republican. "When I got there, he was floating face down."
Welch quickly dumped his gear on the bank and went in after the man, later identified as Cromp, 55, of Plattsburgh, and pulled him ashore.
Welch said Cromp wasn't breathing right away, but after CPR, he started coughing and spitting up water.
At that point, other officers began to arrive.
Cromp was transported to CVPH Medical Center and admitted in critical condition. His status remained unchanged by Wednesday evening, a hospital spokesperson said.
Police didn't know Wednesday why he was in the water.
No charges will be filed.
Copyright 2011 - The Press-Republican, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
