Man and dog end up in D&R Canal near Titusville
By John Tredrea
A man sprang from his car on Route 29 to pull another man and his 200-pound dog from the frigid waters of the Delaware and Raritan Canal the afternoon of Dec. 15.
Police credit the good Samaritan, Kevin Phillips, 36, of Albrightsville, Pa., with saving the lives of both Eric Green, 27, of Washington Crossing, Pa., and Mr. Green’s Bernese mountain dog.
Capt. George Meyer of the Hopewell Township Police Department said Mr. Green was visiting a friend in the area and walking his dog along the D&R Canal State Park towpath in Titusville. The dog ventured too close to the water and slipped into the canal.
There was 1 or 2 feet of thin ice at the edge of the canal that did not support the dog’s 200-pound weight. Mr. Green was holding the dog’s leash, attempting to pull it from the water, but he was pulled into the canal (about 4 to 5 feet in that area) as well.
Mr. Phillips was traveling north on Route 29 when he saw Mr. Green struggling to get out of the canal. He parked and ran into the icy water. He pulled Mr. Green to the edge and out of the water. Mr. Phillips then pulled the dog from the water, as well.
Police officers and the Hopewell Valley Emergency Service arrived. Mr. Green and Mr. Phillips were transported to Capital Health System, Helene Fuld Campus for treatment of possible hypothermia by the Hopewell Valley Emergency Services and Union Rescue Squad.
The dog, which was unharmed, was turned over to a friend of Mr. Green. It is unknown how long Mr. Green was in the water before he was rescued. The water temperature was in the high 20s at the time he fell in.
Officers credited Mr. Phillips with saving Mr. Green’s life.
Responders included Hopewell Township police, Hopewell Valley Emergency Services, Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad and Mercer County Mobile Intensive Care Unit.

