Slush Pile: Race Under Frozen Lake

2009 Slush Pile

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Race Under Frozen Lake

2009 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

Cops: Pals had fatal race in icy lake: DENVILLE — A 36-year-old man who drowned Sunday after he and a longtime friend challenged each other to a swim across Indian Lake in Denville was last seen underwater, banging his head against the ice to free himself, Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi said Monday.

Bianchi said Steve Savare and a 37-year-old Morris Township man, whom he would not identify, engaged at times in friendly competitions and decided Sunday to race each other under the ice back and forth across Indian Lake.

The pair, dressed in shorts and T-shirts, got permission from a homeowner to enter the lake from the homeowner's dock, Bianchi said. The homeowner, Robert Huss, watched from shore with other residents of the home, and noticed the two swimmers diverge from each other on the way back from a gap in the ice, he said.

Savare, an electrician who lives on West Shore Road, was last seen banging his head against 3-inch-thick ice about 30 yards from shore, Bianchi said.

Divers recovered his body after he had been under water for between 30 to 45 minutes, and he was pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m. at Morristown Memorial Hospital.

Savare's friend — identified by witnesses and friends as Jimmy Farmer — was rescued about six feet from shore by Huss and his brother Alphonse, who used sledgehammers to crack through the ice.

Robert Huss' wife, Britt, said she watched from inside her home as Savare's and Farmer's heads went underwater. When the pair did not surface, she called 911 at about 2:47 p.m.

"It was supposed to be polar bear thing. They were just going to see who could stay in longer, but it went terribly when they swam under the ice," said Britt Huss, 37. "They made a terrible mistake when they went under the ice."

Richard Boyle, who lives nearby on West Shore Road, said Farmer had been staying at Savare's home for the past three months.

"They were best friends," Boyle said, adding that Farmer grew up in Parsippany.

The survivor of the Indian Lake incident was released from an area hospital Monday afternoon, according to the prosecutor's office. Boyle said Farmer had already returned to the Savare home to pick up clothing.

"He was real shook up," Boyle said of Farmer, who, he said, is an auto mechanic. "I don't believe they had any intention of swimming under ice when they got in. They just took off, and Jimmy was screaming for Steve when he was on the stretcher."

Boyle described the two as "risk-takers," and said a plunge in the lake was not uncharacteristic of the pair. A few months ago, the two raced across the lake in a 2 a.m. competition, he said.

Savare grew up in Stillwater and graduated with Farmer from Kittatinny Regional High School in 1991, several friends said. Farmer moved to the communitiy as a teen. Bianchi said neighbors told authorities the two were in the Marines together, but Bianchi's office could not confirm any military affiliation.

Attempts to reach the family of both men on Monday were unsuccessful.

Jessica Churchwell, of Newton, created a Facebook group Monday to honor Savare and to raise money for his family, so he could be buried in a plot near his father and an older brother. At age 21, that brother, Michael Savare, was struck and killed by a train near Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, Pa., as he and a friend were walking on the tracks. Michael Savare was an honors student and a three-year starter on the college football team.

"Steve was a kind, passionate, intelligent man who cared about everyone and always lived life to the fullest and will truly be missed by all," Churchwell wrote on the social networking site. "Steve's wish was to be buried next to his brother and father at a family plot in Stillwater, however, due to financial constraints this may not be feasible."

Marianne Nichols, 39, of Jacksonville, Fla. — who was a few years ahead of Savare at Kittatinny High School, and who knew his other older brother, Bobby — said she remembers Steve Savare as a kind person.

"He was a sweet guy, he got along with just about everyone," said Nichols, adding that the two recently reconnected online. "My heart goes out to the family."

Bianchi said that toxicology tests and an autopsy on Savare are pending. The prosecutor said the investigation does not show any criminal wrongdoing but is "just regrettably an unfortunate activity that occurred."

Bianchi and Denville Police Chief Chris Wagner credited Huss and the members of the Denville Police Department who resuscitated Savare's friend.

"Water and ice rescues are inherently difficult and dangerous," Bianchi said, "and we are proud of the quick thinking of both the residents and police officers who were successful in performing lifesaving measures that ultimately led to the survival of one of the victims."

Meghan Van Dyk: 973-428-6633; mvandyk@gannett.com. Peggy Wright contributed to this report.

Submitted on 12/31/2009

Submitted by: belkor@aol.com
Reference: Daily Record, NJ 12/27/2009

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What James said.

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2009 Slush Pile

Race Under Frozen Lake

2009 Reader Submission Pending Acceptance

2009 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance