Several civilians, firefighters, and emergency services personnel were recognized at Tuesday night’s Manchester Township Council meeting for their roles in a life-saving rescue at Hidden Lake in Whiting.
On July 30, 2025, Manchester Township police officers responded to Hidden Lake for a report of an unconscious 16-year-old male in the water. The lake’s remote location and difficult terrain made reaching the teen challenging.
Joseph Griscavage Jr. arrived at the scene in his Jeep and offered to help. Knowing the area, he guided officers along the trail to the teen, helped remove him from the water, and assisted with getting him out of the remote area. When police vehicles became stuck on the trail, Griscavage used his own vehicle to help free them.
Four other civilians, Noah DeSimone, Dylan Verge, Sydney Reilly, and Makenzie Vulgaris, also assisted with the rescue, including helping the teen, communicating with police dispatch, and guiding responding officers.
Members of the Whiting Volunteer Fire Company and Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services worked alongside police officers and civilians to evaluate and stabilize the teen, provide medical care, and coordinate the rescue.
Thanks to the combined efforts, the teen was successfully rescued and made a full recovery, suffering only a minor concussion.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, Griscavage, DeSimone, Verge, Reilly, Vulgaris, and the Whiting Volunteer Fire Company received the Manchester Township Police Department Civilian Service Award.
The Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services received the Chief’s Recognition Award for its members’ efforts during the rescue.
Officials praised the teamwork between civilians, volunteers, and first responders that helped save the teen’s life.
