Recognition finds student who saved 4 from icy pond
Last Updated on Monday, 17 August 2015 12:56 Monday, 17 August 2015 12:56
By HAROLD McNElL
Niagara Gazette
Almost two weeks after he saved four State University at Buffalo students who were trapped in an icy pond on the UB campus, recognition finally came to a LaSalle Senior High School student Friday.
Mark Kiecker, 18, of 1209 Dogwood Place, said he was surprised to hear an account of his heroic deeds over the school public address system Friday. He had told only his father, John, his gym teacher and some friends about it. He had not remained at the scene of the rescue long enough for anyone else to know what he did.
Kiecker said it all happened about 9.p.m. Feb. 5. He and a friend who attends UB decided to go ice skating on the campus’ LaSalle Pond. While they were putting on their skates, Kiecker said, he saw six skaters in trouble about 150 yards away.
Kiecker said he borrowed a hockey stick and skated toward a big black hole 40 yards from shore.
“I saw two people closer in and two farther out The people on the shore were just standing there. The people in the hole weren’t doing much for themselves,” he said.
Kiecker went over to the first two. He offered one the stick and fell in himself, but succeeded ln pulling the two out.
“I skated over to the other two, then the ice gave way and I fell in. l put my elbows up and I started breaking the ice and I pushed myself out. I called the other two to come over near the edge of the ice and pulled them over. I grabbed the heavier guy by the pants and pulled him out. The second guy was kind of light, and I pulled him by his arm,” Kiecker said.
“After that I was cold, so I left and went to the dorm, took a nice hot shower and put on some warm clothes.”
According to UB Public Safety Police, six students in all had fallen through the ice on the pond. They were all treated and released the same evening from Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.
“By the time I was taking off the wet clothes, that‘s when l heard the fire trucks and ambulances and police cars. I didn’t think it was my position to go down and say I did this. I didn’t think it was that great of a feat really. I thought it might be a good deed, but I didn’t think it was heroic or anything at the time,” said Kiecker.
But nearly two weeks later, Kiecker’s gym teacher, Rodney Rhodes, overheard him telling the story to some classmates.
“I asked him to tell me more about it. l didn’t know if it was true or not. but I know him to be a sincere boy,” Rhodes said.
Rhodes told Principal Ralph Guerrucci of what he had learned.
“If it could be verified, I thought it was quite a heroic measure, and I thought it should receive some recognition.” Rhodes said.
He said Guerrucci verified Kiecker’s account and made the announcement Friday.
It makes me feel good now about what I did, but at the time I wasn’t thinking of that. I just wanted to get the people out of the water. My friends now call me Captain America to razz me,” said Kiecker.
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