New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier has been recognized for his heroic actions after aiding a family of four, including two children, who encountered trouble on the Aare River in Bern, Switzerland. Hischier, who was in his home country during his summer break, assisted local authorities in rescuing the family from a small rubber boat that had become stuck near a dangerous dam.
Witnesses described Hischier's involvement as heroic. Using a throw bag, he helped secure the family and pull their vessel ashore to the safety of the Engehalde weir footbridge. Police confirmed that all four individuals were unharmed.
Hischier, however, downplayed his role in the incident. "In this situation, everyone is grateful for support and we were all relieved that no one was hurt in the end," he told Swiss news outlet 20 Minuten.
The off-ice rescue comes shortly after Hischier committed his long-term future to the New Jersey Devils. The 27-year-old signed a five-year contract extension worth $58.5 million, keeping him with the team through the 2031-32 season.
His heroic act also drew praise from within the Devils organization. Devils team reporter Amanda Stein called the rescue "the most Nico story of all time," a sentiment echoed by the team's official account on X, which stated: "Reason number 1,113 why we're damn proud Nico Hischier is a New Jersey Devil."
Upon his return to the ice, Hischier is also nearing a franchise milestone. He needs four more goals to surpass Bobby Holik and Travis Zajac for third place on the Devils' all-time goals leaderboard.