Firefighters remember friend lost in Cheesequake Creek

A group of firefighters gathered on Tuesday afternoon at Sayreville's Melrose Hose Company 1, where the flag was lowered to half-staff, to reminisce about their friend and fellow firefighter, Paul Chrzaszcz."He was a good guy," Assistant Fire Chief George Gawron said. "You couldn't ask for a better firefighter.""He was a good fireman and a good guy," Fire Chief Chuck Wojtaszek said. "We'll really miss him."

The 24-year-old South Amboy resident, who dove into the murky waters of Cheesequake Creek near Morgan Marina on Gondek Drive about 8 p.m. Monday, was found dead on Tuesday.Chrzaszcz, a volunteer firefighter in South Amboy and Sayreville, was found in the creek about 75 feet west of the marina, Sayreville Police Sgt. David Lasko said. Just before noon Tuesday, rescuers were seen carrying a body covered in a white sheet to shore.

On Monday night, Chrzaszcz dove into the water and did not resurface, Lasko said. He was reported missing by a friend, Evan Barchowski, 22, of South Amboy. The two had been boating on Sunday, when the small motor fell off the boat. They located the motor underwater and used a magnetic device to mark the site, Lasko said. The two returned on Monday to retrieve the motor.Lasko said a search team from the State Police's aviation and marine units, a dive team from Franklin Township and the Sayreville police were mobilized Monday night. The search was suspended at about 11:30 p.m. and resumed Tuesday morning.