Fallen Princeton EMT Michael Kenwood to be Honored

The Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad is planning two events to honor Michael Kenwood, a volunteer EMT and rescue technician who died nearly a year ago while attempting a swiftwater rescue during Hurricane Irene. 

The first event is a memorial service on the anniversary of Michael’s death, Tuesday, Aug. 28. The ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. at Greenway Meadows Park, 275 Rosedale Rd. in Princeton. PFARS will dedicate a bench in the park in Kenwood's memory. 

The second event, a concert by professional concert production company Broadway Sings will pay tribute to Michael’s life and legacy on Sunday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. at the Princeton High School Performing Arts Center.

Broadway Sings, which features stars of the Broadway and national companies of hit Broadway shows, has roots with the Kenwood family and Michael Kenwood helped the group with free computer and legal work when they started out. As a tribute to Kenwood, his passion for life and dedication to the community, the performers will donate their talents to provide an evening of music.

The concert will also feature a silent auction. Proceeds from the concert and auction will be split between Kenwood's family and PFARS. To purchase tickets, click here.

Michael Kenwood was 39 years old when Hurricane Irene hit the East Coast and devestated New Jersey. Kenwood responded to a call around 4:30 a.m. following a report of a vehicle partially submerged in floodwater on Rosedale Road.

When crews arrived on scene, they began yelling to anyone who might be stranded inside the car to flash the lights. The lights flashed. 

Kenwood and PFARS President Peter Simon were tethered to a rope attached to the rescue truck. As the men waded into deeper water and the current got stronger, they realized it wasn't safe and turned around. 

Kenwood lost his footing, and although Simon tried to plant his feet to stablize Kenwood, the two men were swept away and the rope connecting them became snagged on small tree- Michael on one side, Peter on the other. Simon cut the rope between the two men and radioed the backup team for help.

The team pulled Kenwood from the water and began CPR immediately, but Michael never regained conciousness. He died at the University Medical Center of Princeton where he died around 10:30 p.m. that night surrounded by family and friends.

It was later determined that the car on Rosedale Road was empty and an electrical short may have caused the lights to flash. Police interviewed the owner of the car but determined there was no criminal action.

Click here to listen to the audio recording of Mercer County Central Communications Center announcing the line of duty death of Michael Kenwood